New Delhi, Apr 3, IRNA -- India Tuesday congratulated pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for leading her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a thumping victory in Myanmar by-elections and said these polls represent a major milestone in its transition towards multi-party democracy.

As a close and friendly neighbour, India remains committed to extending all possible assistance and support to the process of national reconciliation and the further strengthening of democracy in Myanmar, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in response to a media question regarding by-elections in Myanmar.

'We welcome the successful conduct of by-elections in Myanmar on April 1, 2012. The results that have been officially announced so far show that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has led the National League of Democracy (NLD) to a landslide victory.

'The NLD won all 40 of the seats declared so far out of the 45 for which the bye elections are being held. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. These elections represent a major milestone in Myanmar’s transition towards multiparty democracy,' he said.

At the invitation of Myanmar government, India had sent senior officials from the Election Commission and journalists from the official media as observers for the bye-elections, he said, adding India's Ambassador to Myanmar also observed the elections in the Yangon region.

India congratulate the Myanmar Election Commission, the government and people of that country on the peaceful and smooth manner in which elections appear to have been held.