India deems Bangladesh polls constitutionally required

NEW DELHI - India Monday described the general elections in Bangladesh as a "constitutional requirement" but cautioned that violence should not determine the way forward in the neighboring nation.

"They (elections) are a part of the internal and constitutional process of Bangladesh. Violence cannot and should not determine the way forward. The democratic processes must be allowed to take their own course in Bangladesh," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League swept to power for the second five-year term in a row in the general elections held Sunday, after an 18-party opposition alliance, led by the former Premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the polls.

Violence marred the elections, with over 20 people killed in poll-related clashes in which mainly opposition party members have been the victims.

Prime Minister Hasina has said that her re-election in the polls is "legitimate," after her party won 107 out of 147 parliamentary seats it contested.

However, the opposition alliance has called the elections a farce, meaningless and unacceptable.