Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers hold photographs of their leader, actor-turned-politician Vijay Chandrasekhar, as they celebrate early leads and results in the recently held state election, in Chennai, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
A worker of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party displays the photographs of party leader and actor-turned-politician, Vijay Chandrasekhar as he celebrates the early leads and results in the recently held state election, in Chennai, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
Confetti is sprayed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, waves to supporters upon his arrival at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to celebrate victory in the recently held state assembly elections in New Delhi, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Confetti is sprayed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, waves to supporters upon his arrival at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to celebrate victory in the recently held state assembly elections in New Delhi, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers hold photographs of their leader, actor-turned-politician Vijay Chandrasekhar, as they celebrate early leads and results in the recently held state election, in Chennai, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
A worker of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party displays the photographs of party leader and actor-turned-politician, Vijay Chandrasekhar as he celebrates the early leads and results in the recently held state election, in Chennai, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
Bharatiya Janata Party members shout slogans and react to earlier results in a recently held state election, in Kolkata, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Bharatiya Janata Party members shout slogans and react to earlier results in a recently held state election, in Kolkata, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Bharatiya Janata Party workers shout slogans and celebrate the party's early results and lead in the recently held state election, in Guwahati, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Confetti is sprayed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, waves to supporters upon his arrival at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to celebrate victory in the recently held state assembly elections in New Delhi, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) supporters celebrate their party wining in the recently held state elections, in Chennai, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
Confetti is sprayed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, waves to supporters upon his arrival at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to celebrate victory in the recently held state assembly elections in New Delhi, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Diplu Ranjan Sarmah, center, New Guwahati candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party shows victory sign after winning in recent held state election in Guwahati, India, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party has wrested control of the opposition stronghold of West Bengal in a key state election.
The Election Commission of India released partial results Monday showing the Bharatiya Janata Party won at least 124 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly and was leading in 83 others.
Modi’s party has never governed West Bengal and had tried for years to dislodge the All India Trinamool Congress government led by state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She is one of Modi’s most prominent critics and has held power in the politically influential state since 2011.
Opposition parties have sharply criticized the polls in West Bengal after the Election Commission
Governments were ousted in two other states and Modi's party retained power in another that held elections in April.
India has more than 1.4 billion people in 28 states and eight federal territories, and elections are staggered with several states and territories voting each year.
India’s opposition faces a setback
The outcome in West Bengal was expected to boost Modi’s standing and strengthen his position midway through his third term in office. The 2024 national election forced his ruling party to to form a government. He is expected to run for a record fourth term in 2029.
Addressing supporters at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Modi said the results pointed to the party’s widening appeal in a state where it had historically struggled.
“A new chapter has been added to Bengal’s destiny," told a cheering crowd.
India’s opposition has struggled to mount a unified and sustained challenge to the BJP’s dominance nationwide.
Banerjee had emerged as one of Modi's most prominent national rivals, particularly after positioning herself as a key leader to unite regional parties against the BJP. Her defeat was likely to weaken her leverage within an opposition bloc already divided by regional power struggles.
Film star-turned-politician scores breakthrough win
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, popular movie star Joseph Vijay, who launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party only two years ago, ousted the ruling DMK party. Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most developed states, has a history of electing movie stars to the top office.
In Kerala, another southern state, the Indian National Congress-led opposition defeated the ruling communist government, ending leftist rule in one of its last remaining strongholds.
Modi’s party also returned to power in the northeastern state of Assam for a third consecutive term.
The Associated Press
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