NEW DELHI, May 16 (SPA) - India's Prime MinisterManmohan Singh's Congress-led coalition was heading for a second term after a clear victory in the general election, according to vote counting trends from the election commission. Singh's Congress-led coalition, riding on the back of yearsof economic growth, did better than expected and will probablybe only just short of an outright majority. That means it mayfind it easier to form a stable coalition with smaller parties, Reuters reported. The main opposition nationalist Bharatiya JanataParty, conceded defeat saying the Congress had the biggestmandate. "I think if Congress wants to compliment some of itsleaders in this hour of victory, I think they're entitled to doso,' senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said as votes were stillbeing counted. The Congress party-led coalition was projected to win 253seats, short of the 272 needed for a parliamentary majority,according to NDTV. The BJP-led alliance would take 160 seats and a Third Frontof communist and smaller groups 87 seats, the TV channel said. "The results are pleasantly surprising, we were not soconfident at the beginning but now we are very confident and wewill secure a majority," Congress leader Oscar Fernandez said. The Congress on its own was ahead in 192 seats, a bettershowing than the last election, the election commission datashowed, strengthening its hands in choosing allies.UPA leads in 250 seats, NDA in 157.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/664745