Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win two of four crucial state elections, expanding its influence and weakening its key rival halfway into his third term.

The BJP is expected to return to power in the eastern state of Assam for the third straight term and is leading in West Bengal, based on counting trends from the Election Commission website on Monday.

Elections in five states and territories took place in April and May, with the BJP seeking to make inroads into opposition-held states. This would bolster Modi's ability to tackle challenges including high unemployment and a pending trade deal with the US.

Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and senior BJP leaders campaigned extensively in West Bengal, focusing on alleged “illegal immigration” from Bangladesh and the weak local economy under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee, a fierce Modi critic and key opposition alliance member, has ruled since 2011. Trends show the BJP leading in 176 out of 294 seats, though Banerjee insisted her party would win.

In Tamil Nadu, movie star Joseph Vijay's new party TVK is on course to oust the ruling DMK, potentially breaking six decades of Dravidian political dominance. Vijay's promises on unemployment and cash handouts have resonated with voters.

In Kerala, a Congress-led alliance is set to defeat the ruling Communist Party. These elections are expected to weaken the opposition INDIA alliance, which deprived Modi of a majority in 2024, and impact the 2029 general election.

The campaign was marked by protests over the removal of millions of names from voter rolls. Critics say it targeted marginalized and minority communities. Professor Uday Chandra warned the vote was not “free and fair,” citing over nine million excluded voters, mostly underprivileged Hindus and Muslims.

Final results are expected by Monday evening but are not expected to immediately impact federal politics.

Source: www.aljazeera.com