Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP is headed for a landslide victory a 300-plus figure the BJP reached as a single largest party. The saffron party kept its core states -- the Hindi heartland, Gujarat and Maharashtra -- while posting fresh victories in Bengal, Odisha and the northeast. It also scored a huge win in Karnataka - a state the Congress rules jointly with HD Kumaraswamy.

According to preliminary data available on the Election Commission (EC) website, the national vote share of the party surged higher than its 2014 vote share which stood at 31.34 per cent.

After victory PM Modi took to Twitter and wrote,  "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat.”

Hope she takes care of Amethi with love: Rahul Gandhi

BJP chief Amit Shah, the architect of the victory, tweeted: "This victory is India's victory. This is the victory of the hopes of youths, the poor, and farmers. This massive win is the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development and the people's trust in him. On the behalf of crores of BJP workers, I congratulate Narendra Modi."

Elections were held on 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats and a party or alliance needs 272 seats to form the government.

BJP Headquarters Echoes With 'Modi Modi' Chant

Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi victory, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asked him to "take care of the interests of the country". He also conceded defeat in Amethi, asking BJP leader Smriti Irani to nurture the constituency "with love". Mr Gandhi has reportedly offered to resign as President of the Congress, though the party is unlikely to accept.