Assembly Polls 2013: Assembly results "wonderful beginning" for BJP success in LS polls, says Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today said his party's good performance in the four Assembly polls is a "wonderful beginning" for success in the Lok Sabha polls due early next year.

"The Final Tally- BJP has won 408 out of 589 seats, which is near 70% of the total seats. Phenomenal! Congress shrunk - only 21% of seats. This is a wonderful beginning towards success in our Mission 272+ and for fulfilling the dream of a Congress Mukt Bharat," Modi said on his Twitter handle.

The Assembly polls to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi were being seen as a "semi-final" before the Lok Sabha elections which are due in the first half of 2014.

Lauding BJP's impressive victory, he said, "People have spoken loud and clear! The verdict has shown yet again that people want development, not corruption & votebank politics."

Modi thanked the people for reposing their faith in BJP and assured them that his party will work hard to fulfil their dreams and aspirations.

The Gujarat Chief Minister also congratulated his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh.

"Spoke to Raman Singhji & congratulated him on BJP's well deserved victory in Chhattisgarh. Thanks to people for reposing faith in BJP again," Modi said.

The victory in Chhattisgarh came as a relief to BJP as it had become a neck-to-neck fight with the Congress in the state. BJP had won 47 and leading in two in a House of 90 when reports last came in.

Meanwhile, Modi kept away from the media during his visit to the party headquarters here. Though he was welcomed with bursting of crackers, beating of drums and slogan shouting, Modi chose to wave from inside his bullet-proof SUV.

He did not speak to the media and left after attending the Parliamentary Board meeting which analysed BJP's performance in the fourth state and decided the future course of action.