Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to win two of four crucial state elections, expanding its influence midway through his third term. In West Bengal, the BJP is leading decisively in a state where it has never previously been elected to power. Partial results from the Election Commission of India show the BJP ahead in at least 190 seats in the 294-member state legislature, signaling a potential end to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule since 2011.
In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), launched only two years ago, is on course to oust the ruling DMK party. With 62 seats confirmed and leads in 45 more, Vijay's party could become a major force. His appeal among young voters and the conversion of fan clubs into political cadres have given him a ready grassroots network. Vijay has promised clean governance, anti-corruption measures, and better welfare policies.
In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to defeat the ruling communist government, ending leftist rule in one of its last strongholds. The UDF is leading in 94 of 140 seats, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling it a "historic" victory. "In some ways, it is a closing of a big chapter in India's democratic political history," Tharoor said.
In Assam, the BJP is set to return to power for a third straight term, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expected to retain his post. Exit polls also indicate the BJP-supported alliance will retain power in the union territory of Puducherry.
The campaign in West Bengal was marked by controversy over the removal of millions of names from voter rolls, which critics say disproportionately affected marginalized and minority communities. Banerjee alleged the Election Commission was biased and accused the BJP of conspiring to tamper with votes. She urged her party's counting agents to remain at stronghold centers, claiming the "real results" would become clear later.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the armed forces for their preparedness, citing "Operation Sindoor" as a model of technological warfare. The operation was launched in May 2025 in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. Singh said the operation proved that Indian forces are "understanding the changes and using them with confidence."
In other news, influencer Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) announced a documentary on the "India's Got Latent" controversy, which sparked backlash in early 2025 over an explicit question. Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed in Uttar Pradesh when a speeding car rammed into a crowd gathered to help victims of a motorcycle collision, highlighting India's frequent road accidents due to poor infrastructure and negligent driving.
Source: www.dw.com