• A BJP supporter holds a cut-out of lotus, the election symbol of BJP, during celebrations. Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters / May 16, 2014
    A BJP supporter holds a cut-out of lotus, the election symbol of BJP, during celebrations. Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters / May 16, 2014
  • Supporters wait for the arrival of Narendra Modi at Shri Kamalam, the BJP Gujarat’s new headquarters in Gandhinagar. By Friday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party was winning in enough seats in the lower house of Parliament to exceed the 272-seat majority needed to create a government without forming a coalition. Sam Panthaky / AFP / May 16, 2014
    Supporters wait for the arrival of Narendra Modi at Shri Kamalam, the BJP Gujarat’s new headquarters in Gandhinagar. By Friday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party was winning in enough seats in the lower house of Parliament to exceed the 272-seat majority needed to create a government without forming a coalition. Sam Panthaky / AFP / May 16, 2014
  • Rahul Gandhi addresses the media, as his mother and the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi stands by his side outside the party headquarters in New Delhi. “I wish the new government all the best,” Mr Gandhi said. Altaf Qadri / AP Photo / May 16, 2014
    Rahul Gandhi addresses the media, as his mother and the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi stands by his side outside the party headquarters in New Delhi. “I wish the new government all the best,” Mr Gandhi said. Altaf Qadri / AP Photo / May 16, 2014
  • Narendra Modi arrives at a rally after his victory in Vadodara. “I want to make the 21st century India’s century. It will take 10 years, not very long,” he said. Indranil Mukherjee / AFP / May 16, 2014
    Narendra Modi arrives at a rally after his victory in Vadodara. “I want to make the 21st century India’s century. It will take 10 years, not very long,” he said. Indranil Mukherjee / AFP / May 16, 2014
  • People celebrate the BJP win in New Delhi. The last time any single party won a majority in India was in 1984, when an emotional nation gave the Congress party a staggering victory of more than 400 seats. AP Photo / May 16, 2014
    People celebrate the BJP win in New Delhi. The last time any single party won a majority in India was in 1984, when an emotional nation gave the Congress party a staggering victory of more than 400 seats. AP Photo / May 16, 2014
  • The overwhelming victory gives Mr Modi, a 63-year-old career politician, a strong mandate to govern India at a time of deep social and economic change. AP Photo / May 16, 2014
    The overwhelming victory gives Mr Modi, a 63-year-old career politician, a strong mandate to govern India at a time of deep social and economic change. AP Photo / May 16, 2014
  • Narendra Modi takes blessings from his mother Hiraba at his brothers residence in Gandhinagar, India. As a child, Mr Modi would often help his father serve tea on a suburban train station platform. EPA / May 16, 2014
    Narendra Modi takes blessings from his mother Hiraba at his brothers residence in Gandhinagar, India. As a child, Mr Modi would often help his father serve tea on a suburban train station platform. EPA / May 16, 2014
  • There was a record turnout in the election, with 66.38 percent of India’s 814 million eligible voters casting ballots during the six-week contest. EPA / May 16, 2014
    There was a record turnout in the election, with 66.38 percent of India’s 814 million eligible voters casting ballots during the six-week contest. EPA / May 16, 2014
  • In a combative speech, the prime minister-elect Narendra Modi pledged to make good governance and development cornerstones of his administration as he drew a contrast with the defeated Congress party’s emphasis on welfare programmes. AFP / May 16, 2014
    In a combative speech, the prime minister-elect Narendra Modi pledged to make good governance and development cornerstones of his administration as he drew a contrast with the defeated Congress party’s emphasis on welfare programmes. AFP / May 16, 2014
  • The BJP was projected to win 282 seats. AFP / May 16, 2014
    The BJP was projected to win 282 seats. AFP / May 16, 2014
  • A supporter of the BJP dances outside the party headquarters in New Delhi. Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters / May 16, 2014
    A supporter of the BJP dances outside the party headquarters in New Delhi. Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters / May 16, 2014

World

In pictures: BJP celebrates resounding win

Robert Mickelson

May 16, 2014

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Indian voters give the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its lead candidate, Narendra Modi, a mammoth mandate for running the next government.

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