Former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Shivanand Tiwari termed the spectacular electoral win of the Narendra Modi-led BJP as unimagined by that party itself.
"I don't think Narendra Modi would have hoped for something like this. There is more support than expected," Tiwari said.
He attributed Congress-led UPA's defeat to its sheer misrule and not campaigning enough to tell the people about its good work which got overshadowed by scams under its tenure.
"The reason behind this surge was the Congress misrule which led to the party's defeat.
There have been so many scams under UPA, Congress was not even fighting. It could not even sell its own good work," he said.
Tiwari gave credit to Modi's good oratory skills that pulled the people towards the BJP.
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"Modi is a good orator like a theatre personality prepares itself in its dialogue and he entered the battle armed with that. Also, the electronic media sold his message. He sold the dream to the people of putting the country on top. Now, it is a test for Narendra Modi's rule to make it as a reality," he said.
The BJP-led NDA secured an absolute majority in elections for the 16th Lok Sabha by claiming 337 seats. Of these, the BJP won in 283 seats. Among the other 15 parties in the coalition, only the SHS (19 seats) and the TDP (16) managed to achieve double digit figures.
In contrast, the ruling UPA could manage to win only 58 seats. Of these, the Congress won 43, its worst electoral performance since 1977. The remaining nine members of the ruling coalition could manage only single digit results, with the NCP coming second with five seats, and the RJD with four.
Friday's result was the largest anti-incumbency vote in India's history. It was driven by a desire for change and anger against corruption and the sluggish economy fanned directly or indirectly by the Congress-led UPA regime, which was in power for a decade.
It also represented the people's hope for a better India under BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.