Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared a “record” electoral victory in the eastern state of West Bengal, as official trends showed his Bharatiya Janata Party gaining a decisive majority in a region long dominated by opposition forces.
Vote counting continued under tight security across the state of more than 100 million people, one of five regions that went to polls in April and May, with results being announced simultaneously.
According to data from the Election Commission of India, the BJP was leading in 156 of 293 seats and had already won 48, positioning the party for a landmark breakthrough in West Bengal, where it has never previously formed a government.
Modi said the outcome reflected a “triumph of good governance” and credited party workers for delivering the result after years of political struggle.
The result is expected to strengthen Modi’s political position ahead of the next general election in 2029, as his government faces economic pressures, including high unemployment, and ongoing foreign policy challenges, such as negotiations over a U.S. trade agreement.
The BJP mounted an aggressive campaign to unseat the ruling regional party led by Mamata Banerjee, which has governed the state since 2011.
Celebrations erupted in the state capital Kolkata, where party supporters gathered in large numbers, while security forces remained deployed across sensitive areas.
Authorities reported scuffles outside several counting centres, with police using batons to disperse crowds. Elections in the state have historically been marked by sporadic violence.
The campaign was also overshadowed by controversy over voter roll revisions, with millions of names removed in what officials described as an effort to eliminate ineligible voters. Critics, however, alleged the process disproportionately affected marginalised and minority communities.
Final results are expected later in the day.