India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved a landmark victory in the eastern state of West Bengal, winning at least 206 seats in the 294-member assembly. This is the party's first electoral triumph in the state, long considered a stronghold of opposition leader Mamata Banerjee.

The results, announced on May 4, mark a significant shift in India's political landscape. Modi took to social media to declare: "People's power has prevailed and BJP's politics of good governance has triumphed." Thousands of BJP supporters celebrated in Kolkata, waving flags and dancing on cars, causing traffic disruptions.

Banerjee, visibly upset, accused the BJP and the Election Commission of rigging the vote, claiming "BJP looted more than 100 seats." She also lost her own constituency of Bhawanipur. Political analyst Sushila Ramaswamy called the victory "tremendous," highlighting the BJP's effective electoral machinery and its dominance in Indian politics.

Meanwhile, India's foreign ministry condemned a drone attack on an energy facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, which injured three Indian nationals. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated: "Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable," and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The UAE blamed Iran for the attack, but Iranian state TV denied any involvement. India reiterated its support for peaceful resolution through dialogue and emphasized the importance of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, given its heavy dependence on imported oil and gas.

In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay won his electoral debut but failed to secure a majority, paving the way for coalition talks. The results come as Modi faces economic challenges including high unemployment and a pending US trade deal ahead of the 2029 general election.

Source: www.dw.com