The 2026 elections in India have seen significant upsets, with BJP poised to take control in West Bengal and a debut party led by a film star making waves in Tamil Nadu.
Before this, the Trinamool Congress had ruled West Bengal for 15 years. Expectations favored TMC continuing its dominance. The BJP’s rise is now reshaping the political landscape.
Key results:
- BJP has won 72 seats in West Bengal while TMC secured 29 seats.
- In Assam, BJP bagged 73 seats out of 101 declared constituencies.
- The United Democratic Front swept Kerala with 99 seats.
- TVK, the new party led by actor Vijay, won 65 seats and leads on 43 out of 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
- NDA is set to govern Puducherry with a majority of 18 seats in the 30-member House.
Mamata Banerjee is leading her BJP rival Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur constituency. Polling in West Bengal occurred on April 23 and April 29, achieving a record voter turnout of about 92 percent.
In Kerala, Congress won 63 seats while its ally IUML added 22 seats. The dynamics shifted significantly as Congress managed to gain ten additional seats compared to previous elections.
The BJP victory marks its first government formation in West Bengal since Independence. This change indicates a substantial shift in voter sentiment across multiple states.
