Modi thanks India for 'historic mandate'

"We all want a new India. I want to bow down my head and say thank you," he said in a victory address to supporters of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP is projected to get about 300 of the 543 seats in parliament.

It is likely to take a larger share of the vote than in the 2014 elections.

The main opposition alliance, which is headed by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party, has admitted defeat.