Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to build a strong and inclusive country following a massive election win.

 

Mod's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to increase its majority on a mandate of business-friendly policies and a tough stand on national security, said a Reuters report.

 

Official data from the Election Commission showed BJP ahead in 300 of the 542 seats being contested, up from the 282 it won in 2014. Modi's coalition partners are ahead in more than 40 other seats.

 

The oppoisiton Congress-led United Progressive Alliance could muster only to 85 seats, according to TV channel reports.

 

The victory will give BJP the first back-to-back majority for a single party since 1984.

 

“Together we will build a strong and inclusive India,” Modi said on Twitter. “India wins yet again!”

 

Modi’s victory boosted financial markets as investors expect his government to continue to pursue economic reforms. He will be under pressure to provide work opportunities for the tens of millions of young people coming on to the job market in the next few years and to boost depressed farm incomes.

 

“The immediate challenges are to address employment, the issue of agricultural income and revive the banking sector,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Care Ratings in Mumbai.

 

Pakistan PM Khan congratulated Modi on election victory and called for peace.

 

Cheering supporters set off firecrackers and showered the mastermind of the campaign, BJP president Amit Shah, with petals as he arrived at party headquarters in New Delhi.

 

“It’s a stamp of approval by voters on the honest and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” said Nalin S Kohli, a BJP spokesman.

 

Congress leaders were sombre.

 

“Why despite a weak economy people preferred the BJP is something we have to understand,” said Salman Soz, a party spokesman. “People have given them a second chance. I hope they use it well.”