Iran Felicitates India On Successful Holding Of Elections

Tehran, May 18, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, on Saturday congratulated Indian government and nation on successful holding of general elections. Afkham hailed participation of over 66 percent of eligible voters in the general voting, and said Iran congratulates the Indian nation, government, political leaders, especially the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which scored a landslide victory. She wished success for the new government to be formed under prime minister-elect Narendra Modi whose Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in Indian election. The spokeswoman expressed hope that formation of the new government in India would lead to further promotion of Tehran-New Delhi relations. Indian general elections, the biggest election ever held in the world, was held in 9 stages, during which over 800 million Indians cast their ballots from April 7 to May 13./end