Confetti is sprayed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, heart, waves to supporters upon his arrival on the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) headquarters to rejoice victory within the lately held state meeting elections in New Delhi, India, Monday, Could 4, 2026.
Manish Swarup/AP
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Manish Swarup/AP
NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist get together on Monday wrested management of the state of West Bengal, an opposition stronghold, in a key election.
The Election Fee of India launched partial outcomes displaying the Bharatiya Janata Celebration received no less than 124 seats within the 294-member West Bengal meeting, and was main in 83 others. Remaining outcomes are anticipated Monday night.
It might be a major breakthrough for Modi’s get together, which had tried for years to dislodge the All India Trinamool Congress authorities led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has by no means ruled West Bengal, a politically influential state, the place Banerjee — one in every of Modi’s most distinguished critics — has held energy since 2011.
Opposition events have sharply criticized the polls in West Bengal after the Election Fee eliminated tens of millions of voters from electoral rolls.
Three different states additionally took half within the newest election.
The South Asian nation of greater than 1.4 billion individuals has 28 states and eight federal territories. Staggered state elections are held at completely different occasions throughout India, with a couple of state polls scheduled nearly yearly.
Diplu Ranjan Sarmah, heart, New Guwahati candidate of Bharatiya Janata Celebration exhibits victory signal after profitable in latest held state election in Guwahati, India, Monday, Could 4, 2026.
Anupam Nath/AP
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Anupam Nath/AP
India’s opposition faces a setback
The end result in West Bengal is predicted to spice up Modi’s standing and strengthen his place halfway by his third time period in workplace. The 2024 nationwide election compelled his ruling get together to depend on regional allies to type a authorities. He’s anticipated to run for a report fourth time period in 2029.
Addressing supporters on the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Modi mentioned the outcomes pointed to the get together’s widening enchantment in a state the place it had traditionally struggled to realize floor.
“A new chapter has been added to Bengal’s destiny,” Modi advised a cheering crowd.
India’s opposition has struggled to mount a unified and sustained problem to the BJP’s dominance nationwide.
Banerjee had emerged as one in every of Modi’s most distinguished nationwide rivals, notably after positioning herself as a key chief to unite regional events towards the BJP. Her defeat is prone to weaken her leverage inside an opposition bloc already divided by regional energy struggles.
Movie star-turned-politician scores breakthrough win
Within the southern state of Tamil Nadu, well-liked film star Joseph Vijay, who launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam get together solely two years in the past, ousted the ruling DMK get together. Tamil Nadu, one in every of India’s most developed states, has a historical past of electing film stars to the highest workplace.
In Kerala, one other southern state, the Indian Nationwide Congress-led opposition defeated the ruling communist authorities, ending leftist rule in one in every of its final remaining strongholds.
Modi’s get together additionally returned to energy within the northeastern state of Assam for a 3rd consecutive time period.
