NEW DELHI, 8 FEB

Union ministers, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, and NDA partners on Saturday showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and Home Minister Amit Shah's strategies for BJP's victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.

BJP leaders and allies such as the NCP, Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party (RV) credited Shah for drafting "accurate" poll strategies that ensured the saffron party's return to power in Delhi after more than 26 years.

BJP was headed for a massive win in Delhi, bagging 48 seats in the 70-member House, with the ruling AAP falling well short with just 22 seats.

The BJP lost power in 1998 to the Congress, which ruled the national capital for the next three terms.

BJP's allies said on Saturday that Delhi voters have rejected the Congress that had questioned the election process and claimed that the Constitution was under attack.

"The voters have once again handed the Congress, which falsely claimed that the Constitution and elections are all in crises, a complete defeat. Their lie has been defeated and the voters have fully supported the truth," Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

"BJP's landslide victory in Delhi is a victory of faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the policies of the BJP," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the victory in Delhi elections was a stamp of approval on the policies of all-round development pursued by Prime Minister Modi.

"This is a victory of development and good governance," Gadkari said.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the people of Delhi have put an end to the politics of lies and theatrics pursued by the AAP.

"Farmers in the national capital were tired of the 'AAP-da' government. Now the farmers will benefit from the policies of the Central government," Chouhan, a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, said.