Narendra Modi claims India poll victory, vows 'inclusive' future

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party have declared victory as an ongoing vote-count shows them with a commanding lead in the country's massive general election.

Election Commission data show the Bharatiya Janata Party leading in contests for 299 out of 542 seats in Parliament, with the main opposition Congress party ahead in 50 contests.
"Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!," Modi tweeted after votes counted so far pointed to a BJP landslide.

The BJP has been accused by critics of discriminating against India's religious minorities, in particular its 170 million-strong Muslim population.

Under Modi, lynchings of Muslims and low-caste Dalits for eating beef and slaughtering and trading in cattle have risen.

Several cities with names rooted in India's Islamic Mughal past have been renamed, while some school textbooks have been changed to downplay Muslims' contributions to the country.

Modi ally and BJP party boss Amit Shah tweeted that the election results, which are yet to be finalised, were a victory "for all of India".

"This result is India's verdict against the propaganda, lies, personal attacks and baseless politics of the opposition," he added.

"Today's mandate also shows that people of India have entirely uprooted casteism, nepotism and appeasement to choose nationalism and development."

The election has been seen as a referendum on Modi, whose economic reforms have had mixed results but whose popularity as a social underdog in India's highly stratified society has endured.

Final results are expected by Thursday evening at the earliest.