US President Barack Obama tonight congratulated Narendra Modi for his emphatic electoral victory during a telephone call in which they discussed Indo-US strategic partnership and the global economic situation. Obama told Modi that the largest democracy in the world had given a decisive mandate.

The US leader also expressed the hope that under Modi's leadership, India would play a significant role on the global stage. In Washington, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the prime minister-elect is welcome to visit the US, which has denied him visa since 2005 in the wake the Gujarat riots.

Hours after the results of the elections were out, the White House exuded confidence that the India-US relationship under a Modi Government would make further progress.

"The Prime Minister of India will receive a visa to travel to the United States. We look forward to working with the new government and the new Prime Minister. I don't anticipate any problem in that regard," Carney said when asked about the visa issue.