Modi's ruling BJP set to make big gains in Indian state elections

Supporters of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrate as early results indicated the party leading in the Maharashtra state Assembly elections in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s (photograph behind, left) BJP party appeared poised to make huge election gains Sunday in Haryana and Maharashtra states which went to polls Wednesday.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrate as early results indicated the party leading in the Maharashtra state Assembly elections in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s (photograph behind) BJP party appeared poised to make huge election gains Sunday in Haryana and Maharashtra states which went to polls Wednesday.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (The Associated Press)

A supporter of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) makes a floor design showing the party symbol as early results indicated the party leading in the Maharashtra state Assembly elections in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party appeared poised to make huge election gains Sunday in Haryana and Maharashtra states which went to polls Wednesday.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (The Associated Press)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political party appears poised to make huge election gains in two Indian states, according to partial results.

Modi had campaigned aggressively as his Bharatiya Janata Party ran on its own for the first time in both Haryana and Maharashtra. If the BJP's leads are confirmed by final results later Sunday, Modi would gain support in pushing through with promised economic reforms.

By Sunday afternoon, the Election Commission of India said the BJP had won 84 of the 288 seats in Maharashtra's state legislature and was leading in another 38. In Haryana, the BJP had won 45 of the state's 90 seats and was leading in another two.

Final results are expected Sunday evening.