New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated US president-elect Joe Biden on his victory, and added that he looked forward to “working closely” with him.
Modi tweeted late Saturday night after Biden won Pennsylvania, a key battleground state that gave the Democrat the required Electoral College votes to push him over the 270-finish line, the number of votes needed to win the presidency.
Congratulations @JoeBiden on your spectacular victory! As the VP, your contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations was critical and invaluable. I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights. pic.twitter.com/yAOCEcs9bN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020
Modi also wished Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate who will be the first woman vice president of the US.
Heartiest congratulations @KamalaHarris! Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2020
Biden’s win capped a nail-biting presidential race that stretched on for five days as the race remained too close to call in key states. While Biden’s win seemed almost guaranteed Friday, it still took till Saturday for the official numbers to stack up in his favour.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also extended his wishes to Biden and Harris.
My sincere felicitations to Joseph R. Biden on his election as President of the United States of America and @KamalaHarris, as Vice President. I wish @JoeBiden a successful tenure and look forward to working with him to further strengthen India-US relations.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 7, 2020
Leaders from across the Indian political spectrum — from National Conference leader Omar Abdullah to DMK’s M.K. Stalin and Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya Sule — also tweeted their wishes to Biden and Harris.
“Sonia Gandhi, party president has extended warmest congratulations on her behalf and on behalf of Congress to US president-elect Joe Biden … She also offered Senator Kamala Harris her heartfelt congratulations on her election as the next VP,” the Congress said in a statement, reported ANI.
Earlier in the night, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Biden, and said he was confident that the 79-year-old “will unite America and provide it with a strong sense of direction.”
Gandhi also congratulated Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris, who will be the first woman vice-president of the US. Harris is also the first Indian American to hold the top position.
“It makes us proud that the first woman to serve as Vice President of the USA traces her roots to India,” Gandhi said.
Congratulations to President Elect Joe Biden(@JoeBiden) and VP Elect Kamala Harris(@KamalaHarris), the first woman elected to the post, on their victory on the US Elections. Their win is a testimony that in a free democracy the voice of the people decides the final outcome. pic.twitter.com/S0S4uGAZJ4
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 7, 2020
Congratulations to the President-Elect @JoeBiden and the Vice President-Elect @KamalaHarris of the USA.
Especially pleased that American people has chosen a woman with Tamil heritage as their next Vice-President in this historic election. #USPresidentialElections2020
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 7, 2020
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it
India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.
But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the finest young reporters, columnists and editors working for it. Sustaining journalism of this quality needs smart and thinking people like you to pay for it. Whether you live in India or overseas, you can do it here.