India PM Modi’s party takes control of West Bengal in key state election
124 seats secured out of 294, ending Mamata Banerjee's 14-year hold on the state.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has secured a historic victory in the West Bengal state elections, wresting control from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. According to partial results from the Election Commission of India, the BJP won at least 124 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly and was leading in 83 others, giving it a commanding majority. Final results are expected later Monday. The victory ends Banerjee's 14-year hold on the state, which had been a key opposition stronghold and a frequent platform for criticism of Modi's policies.
The BJP had never governed West Bengal before this election, and the win represents a major breakthrough in the party's efforts to expand its influence beyond its traditional strongholds. Banerjee, one of Modi's most prominent critics, had held power since 2011. However, the election has been marred by controversy. Opposition parties have sharply criticized the Election Commission for removing millions of voters from electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the polls. Three other states also participated in the latest round of elections, with results still emerging. India, a country of over 1.4 billion people, has 28 states and eight federal territories, and staggered state elections are held throughout the year.
- BJP won at least 124 seats and led in 83 others out of 294 assembly seats in West Bengal.
- This is the first time the BJP has governed West Bengal, ending Mamata Banerjee's 14-year rule.
- Opposition parties allege the Election Commission removed millions of voters from rolls, raising legitimacy concerns.
Why It Matters
Modi's BJP gains a critical opposition stronghold, reshaping India's political landscape ahead of national elections.