Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared a “record” victory in the crucial West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, as early results and official trends showed a strong lead for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the opposition-held state.
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With counting still underway under tight security, the BJP was leading in 156 out of 293 seats and had already secured 48 seats, according to the Election Commission of India. If confirmed, this would mark the party’s first-ever victory in West Bengal, a state with a population exceeding 100 million.
Modi hailed the outcome as a triumph of governance and grassroots efforts. “People’s power has prevailed and BJP’s politics of good governance has triumphed,” he said, crediting party workers for the historic performance.
The BJP ran an aggressive campaign to unseat the long-standing regional leadership of Mamata Banerjee, whose party has governed the state since 2011. However, Banerjee rejected the results, alleging electoral irregularities and claiming that more than 100 seats were “stolen.”
“This is not a moral victory; it is an immoral victory,” she said, vowing a political comeback.
Celebrations erupted in the state capital Kolkata, where BJP supporters took to the streets. Meanwhile, clashes were reported near counting centers, prompting police intervention to maintain order.
The elections were also marked by controversy over the removal of millions of names from voter rolls, officially described as an effort to eliminate ineligible voters, but criticized by opponents as disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
In another major political upset, M. K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) lost his seat in Tamil Nadu. His party was overtaken by the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay.
Political analysts described the result as a shift toward new leadership, particularly among younger voters, with Vijay’s popularity playing a decisive role.
Elsewhere, in Kerala, a Congress-led alliance ousted the incumbent Communist government, securing 63 out of 97 seats. Rahul Gandhi thanked voters for delivering a “decisive mandate” and praised party workers for their campaign efforts.
The BJP also retained power in Assam, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated a third consecutive victory. The party further strengthened its position in Puducherry as part of the ruling coalition.
The results from multiple states are expected to bolster Modi’s political standing ahead of the 2029 general elections, as his government navigates economic pressures, unemployment concerns, and ongoing international negotiations.
