New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on latter's victory in the snap polls wherein Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and a small coalition partner secured at least 312 seats in the 465-seat lower house of Parliament. "Heartiest greetings to my dear friend Shinzo Abe on his big election win. Look forward to further strengthen India-Japan relations with him", the Prime Minister said, reacting to Mr Abe's re-election in the snap polls. Mr Modi also posted a congratulatory message in the micro blogging site in Japanese script with a photograph of both the leaders (Mr Abe and PM Modi) shaking hands. The mandate in Sunday's general elections is seen as a strong mandate for Mr Abe's known hard line stance against North Korea and an endorsement to push for revision of the country’s pacifist constitution. According to observers and international press, the victory has boosts Mr Abe's chances of winning another three-year term next September as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party - that would also probably extend his premiership to 2021. Stocks rose in Tokyo on Monday morning, reports said. In Indian context, continuation of Mr Shinzo-led regime in Japan augurs well, especially on the backdrop of good personal rapport established between Tokyo and New Delhi since 2014. Along with the US, both India and Japan have been trying to establish a trilateral understanding in the region. UNI DEVN-RJ RSA 1419