Modi congratulates Raje, Chouhan

The BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Sunday called up the party's chief ministerial candidate of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje and congratulated her on the big win in her state.

He also extended congratulations to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as trends showed the BJP leading in 143 of the state's 230 assembly constituencies by 1 p.m.

"He (Modi) called Vasundhara Raje and congratulated her on performing very well in the elections in the state. Vasundhara thanked him for the efforts he put into the state at the time of campaigning," a BJP functionary told IANS.

The BJP, till 1 p.m., had won 28 seats and was leading in 122 constituencies or Rajasthan, while the incumbent Congress was leading in 26 and had won only two seats.

Meanwhile, BJP supporters started to decorate the state capital Jaipur with posters and banners and BJP flags. Vasundhara Raje is expected to arrive in the state capital Sunday from Jhalawar.

"We want to give her a big welcome and in this direction we are decorating the city with posters, flags and banners," said Rajesh Kumar, a BJP worker.

The BJP workers were seen singing and dancing to the beat of drums as the party continued to surge ahead of the ruling Congress in the desert state.

Shouting slogans, "Modi-Modi" and "Vasundhara Raje Zindabad", BJP workers burst fire crackers.

"We have come back... we are going to form the government. We are very happy," A.K. Purohit, an excited BKP worker, told IANS.

"It shows that Rajasthan voters have rejected the Congress government and its claim of development, and we are going to have a majority," Onkar Singh Lakhawat, state BJP vice president, said.

"The people have given their verdict. The voters have voted against poor governance," he said.