Putin congratulates Modi over 'success' in Indian parliamentary election

ISTANBUL / MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday congratulated during a phone talk Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the "success" of his political party in the recent general elections, the Kremlin said.

Putin called the electoral win by South Asian nation’s ruling alliance proof of people's support of the government's political course, acknoledgment of achievements in economy and international arena.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of the Russia-India particularly privileged strategic partnership, which will continue to expand in all areas," it said

The two leaders agreed to maintain “constructive personal interaction,” it added.

Modi has been elected to lead a new coalition government for a third straight term, a day after it regained power with a slim majority.

His Bharatiya Janata Party won 240 seats, falling short of the 272-mark needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament, which has 543 seats in total. With its allies, the BJP secured a majority, winning 293 seats.

The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress party, won 232 seats, significantly higher than exit polls had predicted.