Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party has made big gains in two Indian state elections, results showed Sunday, in an endorsement likely to encourage him to step up the pace of economic reforms.
Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was set to win 122 of 288 seats in Maharashtra. This more than doubles its seat count in the western state — home to the financial hub of Mumbai — but falls short of an outright majority.
The BJP won 47 of 90 seats in Haryana, which borders the capital, New Delhi — enough to rule alone.