Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won a resounding election victory in West Bengal, taking control of the state for the first time. This result in a large and politically significant state in eastern India, which had been a rare opposition stronghold, is set to have significant implications for the country’s political landscape.
The sweep follows weeks of extensive campaigning by senior BJP leaders. While the ruling party is poised to govern the state, its defeated opponents have accused the BJP of cheating.
The victory in West Bengal, along with the BJP's lead in two of four key states, is expected to significantly weaken the opposition. This expansion of power across the country further consolidates Prime Minister Modi's unrivalled power as he hopes to make inroads into other opposition strongholds.