After six weeks and 600 million votes, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi clinched another five-year term leading the world’s largest democracy.

It’s a huge vote of confidence for Modi and a historic win for his party, which won a record number of parliamentary seats.

CGTN’s Shweta Bajaj reports.

Celebrations at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters began as soon as it became clear Modi would once again be prime minister of India. With a sweeping win across the country, Modi’s government has shut down all his critics, winning more seats in this year’s elections than in 2014.

“If anyone has won, it’s India. If anyone has won, it’s the democracy. If anyone has won, it’s the people of India. So, all of us, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and our partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dedicate this win to the public,” Modi said.

Modi won with a historic mandate. His campaign was centered around national security and nationalist pride. The main opposition Congress party has been dismantled. Its leader, Rahul Gandhi, suffered a crushing defeat, losing his own parliamentary seat which his family held for generations.

The clean sweep gives Modi little time to rest. India’s economy is facing a slowdown with high unemployment rates. The success of his foreign policy will be dependent on a strong domestic economy. The challenges will be massive as Modi gets ready for this second term as India’s prime minister.

Chidanand Rajghatta on the impact of Modi’s historic win in India’s elections

CGTN’s Asieh Namdar discusses India’s election results with Chidanand Rajghatta, editor with the Times of India.