India's Congress party on Saturday won an almost overwhelming victory in the general elections, leading by more than 60 seats in beating the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), TV projections said.

A supporter of Congress party carry party flags as he celebrates in front of the residence of party chief Sonia Gandhi after learning of initial poll results in New Delhi May 16, 2009. India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress-led coalition appeared to be heading for a second term after a clear victory in the general election, TV networks projected as votes were counted on Saturday.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

The projections, based on counting of electronic machines of the Election Commission, said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has won 230 seats out of 525 seats counted so far. The BJP won 160 and Third Force 73. Eighteen seats are still being counted.

The Congress has also won all the seven seats in the capital New Delhi.

The outgoing ruling party will thus continue its rule of the country with Prime Minister Manmohan Single to take a second term, said analysts.

However, the party could still be some 40 seats short of the 272 majority in Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament. So it needs to gain support from some parties of the Third Force to set up a government.

Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal claimed victory to local TV channel CNN-IBN, saying that it is absolutely clear that the people of Indian have given the Congress the mandate to lead the nation into the future.

"The Indian people need a stable, honest and straightforward government for the future generation of India," he said.

Some supporters of the Congress have already been celebrating the victory in their camps across the country, as is shown in TV footage.