BJP Secures Landslide Victory in West Bengal, Modi Hails 'New Dawn'

Key facts

• BJP won 61 seats and led in 143 others in the 294-seat West Bengal assembly, crossing the 148-seat majority mark.
• Trinamool Congress, in power since 2011, faced defeat after a record deletion of voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
• Prime Minister Modi posted on X: 'The Lotus blooms in West Bengal' and said 'people's power has prevailed'.
• BJP candidate defeated Trinamool's Shashi Panja in Bengal's Shyampukur constituency.
• BJP demanded repolling in the Canning Purba assembly constituency.
• Voting was held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with repolling ordered in Falta and some other booths.
• In Assam, BJP secured a clean sweep, with Himanta Biswa Sarma set to become chief minister for a second term.

BJP Crosses Majority Mark in West Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party has secured a decisive victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, crossing the 200-seat mark and well past the simple majority of 148 needed to form a government. The triumph ends 15 years of rule by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which had dominated the state's politics since 2011. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters in Delhi wearing a dhoti to address party workers, celebrating what he called a historic mandate. 'The Lotus blooms in West Bengal,' he wrote on X, referring to the BJP's symbol, adding that the 2026 assembly election 'will be remembered forever' and that 'people's power has prevailed'.

Trinamool Congress Defeated After Voter Deletion Controversy

The Trinamool Congress faced defeat in the first election after a record deletion of voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a process that had drawn criticism from opposition parties. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who lost to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram in 2021 but later won a bypoll from Bhabanipur, now faces a direct challenge from Adhikari in the same constituency. Adhikari, a former Banerjee lieutenant and now Leader of the Opposition, has brought the fight to her doorstep in Bhabanipur, which became a focal point of the counting. 'A New Dawn for Sonar Bangla,' Adhikari said, referring to the golden Bengal of lore.

BJP Sweeps Assam, UDF Wins Kerala, TVK Surges in Tamil Nadu

In Assam, the BJP secured a clean sweep, with Himanta Biswa Sarma set to return as chief minister for a second consecutive term. The party's performance in the northeastern state mirrored its West Bengal success, consolidating its hold on the region. In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front crossed the majority mark, according to the Election Commission, setting the stage for a new government. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) sprang a surprise, pushing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) into trailing positions. The BJP also retained Puducherry, with Prime Minister Modi praising Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.

Counting Process and Allegations of Irregularities

Counting of votes began at 8 am across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, with the Election Commission releasing trends throughout the day. The Trinamool Congress claimed the counting process was unusually slow, raising concerns about transparency. The BJP candidate from Canning Purba in Bengal demanded a repoll, alleging irregularities in the constituency. The Election Commission has not yet commented on the demand. Repolling had already been ordered in the Falta constituency and some booths elsewhere after the two-phase voting on April 23 and 29.

Background: From 2021 to 2026

In the 2021 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress won 215 seats, while the BJP made significant inroads, bagging 77 seats and becoming the main opposition party for the first time in the state assembly. The Congress and the Left failed to win any seats. Chief Minister Banerjee lost to Adhikari in Nandigram but was later elected through a bypoll from Bhabanipur. The 2026 election was marked by an intense battle of ideologies, grassroots politics, aggressive promises of doles and development, and fresh calls for change. Exit polls had failed to project a clear winner, making the BJP's landslide victory all the more surprising.

What Comes Next: Government Formation and Political Realignment

With the BJP crossing the majority mark in West Bengal, the party is set to form its first government in the state, ending the Trinamool Congress's decade-and-a-half rule. The focus now shifts to the selection of a chief ministerial candidate, with Suvendu Adhikari emerging as a strong contender. In Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma will take oath for a second term. In Kerala, the UDF will begin negotiations to form a government, while in Tamil Nadu, the TVK's surge could reshape the state's political landscape. The results mark a significant expansion of the BJP's footprint in eastern and southern India, reinforcing Prime Minister Modi's political dominance.

The bottom line

• BJP won a landslide in West Bengal, crossing 200 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule.
• Prime Minister Modi hailed the victory as a 'new dawn' and said 'people's power has prevailed'.
• Trinamool Congress faced defeat after a record voter deletion under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
• BJP also swept Assam, while Congress-led UDF won Kerala and TVK surged in Tamil Nadu.
• Counting was marred by allegations of slow processing and a demand for repoll in Canning Purba.
• The results expand BJP's influence in eastern and southern India, solidifying Modi's political standing.