Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on course to secure a historic victory in a key state election by defeating one of the country's most powerful opposition figures. Early trends from Monday's vote count indicate that Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win a clear majority in the eastern border state of West Bengal, a region the party has never governed in India's post-independence history.
West Bengal Results
West Bengal was among several states and territories announcing results on Monday. The BJP also performed well in Assam, where it is expected to retain power, and in the small coastal territory of Puducherry, where it governs as part of a coalition and appears set to continue doing so. Prime Minister Modi, his close aide Amit Shah, and several senior BJP figures campaigned extensively in West Bengal over recent weeks, focusing on what they termed illegal immigration from Bangladesh and the weak local economy under incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee, a fierce critic of Modi and chief minister since 2011, relied on welfare politics and Bengali sub-nationalism in her bid to secure a historic fourth term. However, the results align with sentiments expressed by voters on the ground last week, with many declaring it was time for poriborton (change). As of 4 pm local time, the BJP was leading in 191 out of 293 polled assembly seats, while Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) was ahead in 88 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee urged calm in a video on social media, alleging manipulation. 'They are trying to manipulate the election,' she said. 'I want to request TMC candidates to not be disappointed. I had told you that you all will win after sunset. Just wait and watch.'
Intense Campaign Season
West Bengal witnessed one of its most intense campaign seasons in recent history, with the BJP leveraging its significant resources to secure a much-sought victory. The Election Commission imposed unprecedented restrictions, including a ban on tourist movement, a multi-day liquor sale prohibition, the deployment of 250,000 paramilitary personnel and armoured vehicles, and the stationing of officers from the federal counter-terrorism agency NIA in the state. Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty told AFP in Kolkata: 'The entire country has its eyes on this state's election results. The contest can tilt the balance of power.'
Tamil Nadu and Other States
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a major hub for electronics and automobiles, popular film star Joseph Vijay, who launched his party only two years ago, appeared poised to oust the ruling DMK party. Vijay, known by his single name, has a fervent fan following in the state, which has a history of electing film stars to top office. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was leading in 104 of 234 seats, while the incumbent DMK was polling first in 44 seats. Even if these trends hold, Vijay would need to form a post-election alliance with either the DMK or the AIADMK to secure a majority to govern Tamil Nadu for the next five years.
The DMK has been a vocal critic of Modi and, alongside Banerjee's TMC, was a key regional powerhouse in the Congress-led opposition INDIA alliance. That alliance jointly contested the 2024 general election and denied Modi an outright majority, forcing him to rely on regional parties to form a coalition government. The losses of these opposition parties are expected to significantly weaken resistance to Modi in the 2029 general election, when he will seek a record fourth term.
In the southern state of Kerala, an alliance led by the Congress party—the main national opposition—looked set to defeat the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), with Congress leading in 63 out of 126 seats. Senior Congress member Shashi Tharoor told PTI: 'It looks like we may get over 100 out of 140 seats, which would be a comprehensive win. It would be a historic moment, for the first time in recent democratic history, there would be no Communist government in power in any state.'
