Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacts after learning the parliamentary elections results in New Delhi, May 23, 2019. Photo: Reuters / Adnan Abidi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly lauded his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, after his sweeping parliamentary elections victory on Thursday.

Official data from the Election Commission of India showed Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead in 302 of the 542 seats up for grabs, up from the 282 it won in 2014 and more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament.

That would give the BJP the first back-to-back majority for a single party since 1984. Votes will be fully counted by Friday morning.

Netanyahu — who has developed close relationship with Modi — tweeted on Friday, “Congratulations, my friend @Narendramodi, on your impressive election victory! The election results further reaffirm your leadership of the world’s largest democracy. Together we will continue to strengthen the great friendship between India & Israel. Well done, my friend!”

Congratulations, my friend @Narendramodi, on your impressive election victory! The election results further reaffirm your leadership of the world’s largest democracy. Together we will continue to strengthen the great friendship between India & Israel.
Well done, my friend! ????? https://t.co/2U5yJmHddS

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 23, 2019

The Israeli leader later published a video showing him speaking with Modi by phone:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called to congratulate Indian Prime Minister @NarendraModi on his election victory.
“Narendra, my friend, congratulations! What an enormous victory!” pic.twitter.com/MzhQRb3q26

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 23, 2019

Ties between Israel and India — which were officially established in 1992 — have flourished in recent years. Modi visited Israel in the summer of 2017, and Netanyahu made a reciprocal trip to India six months later.