Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A victory that was a foregone conclusion: the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) , a coalition led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) , will lead the new government of India. The Prime Minister of the new government will be controversial but charismatic Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat. Although official figures will only be released in the next few hours, early indications suggest that the BJP will get an absolute majority of seats (272 out of 543) and hence will not need alliances to govern the country .
The Congress Party, of the outgoing government, has conceded defeat . "We accept defeat - said the spokesman Rajeev Shukla - We are ready to sit in the opposition benches".
Through AsiaNews Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC ) , "congratulates Modi and the BJP for their resounding victory. We pray that the secular credentials of the Indian Constitution are respected as sacred and equal treatment and rights of all citizens of our great nation ensured, without favoritism towards some sections of society". (NC)