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Hindu nationalists win Indian election
AHMADABAD, India Hindu nationalists won a crucial test of political support Sunday with a resounding victory in a state election, fought in the shadow of anti-Muslim riots that left more than 1,000 people dead in 2002.The vote in Gujarat, in western India, was a personal victory for Narendra Modi, arguably India's most divisive politician, who was re-elected to the state's top job. Throughout the often bitter campaign, Modi cast the election as a referendum on his rule a tenure best known for the riots, which began after a mysterious train fire killed 59 Hindu pilgrims. Many in India say Modi stood idly by as Hindu mobs butchered Muslims, who were blamed for the fire. The United States has refused to renew his visa because of the riots. "This vote is a positive vote to bring back the government," he told thousands of supporters on Sunday. "All the negative propaganda used in the campaign has been rejected by the people." With persistent talk of early elections, analysts had predicted a close race between Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, India's main opposition party, and the Congress party, which heads the federal government. Some in Congress had even hoped to pull off an upset and unseat the BJP. Instead, the BJP won 117 seats in the 182-seat state assembly in elections held in two phases earlier this month, according results announced Sunday by the election commission. Congress won 62 seats, and independents took 3. Posted by: Seafarious 2007-12-24 |
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