Moscow, June 5 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday held a phone conversation with Narendra Modi, who resigned from the post of India’s prime minister earlier in the day, to congratulate him on his party’s success in the parliament elections, the Kremlin said.
The Indian Election Commission announced final election results earlier on Wednesday. The National Democratic Alliance won 292 out of 543 seats in the lower house, effectively securing itself a legislative majority. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received 240 seats, while the main opposition Indian National Congress party received 99 seats which is almost double the 52 seats it won in the last election five years ago. According to the established procedure, India’s prime minister and cabinet ministers must resign but serve until a new government is formed following the announcement of results of the parliamentary elections.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Russian president warmly congratulated Narendra Modi on the success of the Indian People’s Party [BJP] in the recently concluded general parliamentary elections,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin and Modi also agreed to continue constructive personal contacts.
“Both sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of the particularly privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India, which will continue to expand on all fronts,” the Kremlin said.
Putin also sent a congratulatory message to Modi, saying that increasing bilateral cooperation serves the interests of both countries.
In the message, Putin also said that he expects that the sides will continue dialogue and constructive joint work on pressing issues.
