New Delhi/IBNS: A new North-South debate was triggered on Sunday after the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the Hindi heartland comprising Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while primary opposition force Congress pulled off a stunning victory in Telangana.

Incidentally, Congress had dislodged BJP from power in another south Indian state, Karnataka, earlier this year.

The new political equation in the Hindi heartland has prompted some on social media to suggest people in North India vote allegedly for religion while in the South, issues are prioritised.

The debate was further fuelled by an X post of DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar. Later, he apologised following a backlash.

Shutting down the debate in an X post loaded with emoticons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily upon the Opposition over the North-South debate.

The Prime Minister wrote, "May they be happy with their arrogance, lies, pessimism and ignorance. But.. Beware of their divisive agenda.

"An old habit of 70 years can’t go away so easily. Also, such is the wisdom of the people that they have to be prepared for many more meltdowns ahead."

The assembly polls in these states were touted as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months.

On the BJP’s impressive performance in the Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the results indicate that "Indians are firmly with politics of good governance."

As party workers celebrated bursting crackers, beating drums and distributing sweets, he said the efforts to divide people on the basis of caste did not work. Those abusing the investigating agencies have been rejected too, he said.

Despite a less-than-stellar performance in Telangana, the BJP managed to inflict significant damage in the closely watched Kamareddy Assembly constituency.