Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed a “record” electoral victory after early results from key state elections showed a decisive lead for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in opposition-ruled West Bengal, marking a significant political moment in India’s evolving electoral landscape.
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP was leading in 156 of the 293 seats in West Bengal and had already secured 48 seats as vote counting continued under tight security across the populous state of more than 100 million people.
Modi hailed the outcome as a historic mandate, stating on social media that “people’s power has prevailed” and describing the result as a triumph of governance. He credited generations of party workers for what he called a “record win” in a state where the BJP had never previously formed a government.
Celebrations broke out among BJP supporters in Kolkata, where senior leaders and workers gathered in large numbers, marking what the party described as a major breakthrough in West Bengal politics.
The BJP had mounted a strong campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has governed the state since 2011. Banerjee, however, rejected the results, alleging large-scale irregularities and claiming that the BJP had “stolen more than 100 seats,” calling the outcome an “immoral victory.”
Tensions were reported in several areas during counting, with scuffles outside polling centres and police using batons to control crowds. The election campaign had already been marked by controversy, particularly over voter roll revisions that critics argued disproportionately affected marginalised communities.
Beyond West Bengal, results across other states also reflected significant political shifts. In Tamil Nadu, veteran leader M.K. Stalin lost his seat in Kolathur in a surprise defeat, as the newly formed TVK party led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay emerged as a strong challenger, benefiting from youth support and dissatisfaction with incumbency.
Political analysts suggested the outcome reflected both anti-incumbency sentiment and the growing influence of celebrity-driven politics in the region.
In Kerala, the Congress-led alliance secured a decisive win over the ruling Communist government, while in Assam the BJP retained power, marking a third consecutive victory in the northeastern state. The party also maintained influence in the Union Territory of Puducherry as part of a coalition.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed the results in Kerala, calling it a “truly decisive mandate” and praising party workers for a strong campaign.
The mixed but politically significant outcomes across multiple states are expected to strengthen the BJP’s national position ahead of future electoral battles, while also reshaping regional power dynamics across India.
