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NEW DELHI. — Triumphant Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi promised to fulfil the dreams of 1,2 billion Indians as he propelled his party to a stunning electoral triumph yesterday with the biggest winning margin for 30 years. Preliminary results at the end of the marathon six-week election showed his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on track for the first parliamentary majority by a single party since 1984.
Most of the country’s 1,2 billion people — more than half of whom are under 25 — have never witnessed such dominance, having grown up in an era of fractious coalition politics.
Modi, an abrasive former tea boy tainted by anti-Muslim riots in his home state of Gujarat in 2002, promised to work for all Indians in a speech designed to sound inclusive amid suspicion of him among religious minorities.
“The heat of the election is over and the people have given their verdict, which says that we need to take India forward to fulfil the dreams of India’s 1,2 billion people,” he said at a rally in Gujarat.
The results exceeded all forecasts. Firecrackers exploded at BJP offices around the country, sweets were handed out to celebrate and painted elephants paraded in front of party headquarters in New Delhi.
“I want to take all of you with me to take this country forward . . . it is my responsibility to take all of you with me to run this country,” Modi added in front of a crowd of thousands in his constituency of Vadodara.
The BJP’s triumph redraws India’s political map, elevating the party to a pan-national power, handing Modi a huge mandate for change, and heaping humiliation on the ruling Gandhi political dynasty.
Modi, 63, will face pressure to deliver a quick improvement in the economy, growing at its slowest rate in a decade, and his commitment to the BJP’s Hindu nationalist agenda will be closely watched by India’s 150 million Muslims.
Preliminary figures from the Election Commission showed the BJP winning more than the 272 seats required for a majority on its own in the 543-seat parliament, with victories by its allies taking it easily in excess of 330.
“It is the dawn of a new era. The lotus has bloomed all over India now,” said BJP president Rajnath Singh, referring to the flower symbol of his party, whose previous all-time high was 182 seats in 1999.
Meanwhile, the leaders of India’s defeated Congress party, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, admitted personal responsibility yesterday for the disastrous election results which came after 10 years in power.
“We understand that victory and loss is part of democracy,” party president Sonia told reporters in New Delhi as preliminary figures showed the Congress heading for its worst ever performance.
“We respect this decision. I take responsibility for this defeat,” she added, in remarks echoed by her 43-year-old son, who led national campaigning for the first time.
The Congress has dominated Indian politics since independence, mostly with a member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty at its head. The famous bloodline has provided three prime ministers.
But yesterday’s figures have already triggered speculation about their future after a lacklustre campaign by Rahul, a former management consultant whose political skills are widely doubted.
“I would like to start by congratulating the new government. They have been given a mandate by the people of this country.
We have done pretty badly. As vice-president of the party I hold myself responsible,” Rahul said.
David Cameron, the prime minister of former colonial ruler Britain, called to congratulate Modi, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from neighbouring Pakistan hailed an “impressive victory”. — AFP.
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