Congress hails India poll victory

Saturday, 16 May 2009

The leaders of India's Congress party have thanked the people for returning them to power with a "massive mandate".

Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that they had made the "right choice" and PM Manmohan Singh vowed the party would "rise to the occasion".

Earlier the main opposition BJP and the Third Front conceded they had lost.

State television says Congress's alliance has won or is ahead in 263 seats, compared with the BJP's (154), the Third Front (60) and others (66).

Congress should now find it easier to form a stable government.

Mr Singh said: "I express my deep sense of gratitude to the people for giving us this massive mandate, for having reposed their faith in the party."

He said that he would try to persuade Rahul Gandhi to join the cabinet.

Sonia Gandhi said: "The people of India know what's good for them and have made the right choice."

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