NEW DELHI: Vote counting in major state elections across India began on Monday under strict security, with particular attention on West Bengal, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is aiming for significant gains.
Polling in five states and territories took place over April and May, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to expand its influence in regions currently governed by opposition parties.
In West Bengal, the BJP mounted a strong campaign to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has governed the state since 2011.
Exit polls released last week suggested a narrow advantage for the BJP over the TMC, though such projections have often proven unreliable in India.
“The entire country has its eyes on this state’s election results,” political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty said in Kolkata. “The contest can tilt the balance of power.”
The election campaign saw controversy over the removal of millions of names from voter lists—officially described as an effort to eliminate ineligible voters, but criticised by opponents as disproportionately affecting marginalised and minority groups.
Banerjee expressed confidence ahead of the results, stating, “The BJP is not coming, take my word for it. Be patient till the last.”
Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said his party was optimistic about victory. “It was an election of rejection,” he said. “People of the state want change. The ruling Trinamool Congress will be defeated.”
Previous elections in the state have been marred by violence.
In Tamil Nadu, a major industrial region, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is widely expected to retain power.
Votes are also being counted in Assam, where the BJP is projected to stay in control, and in the coastal territory of Puducherry, where the party is part of the governing coalition.
In Kerala, a closely fought contest is underway, with exit polls indicating that a Congress-led alliance could unseat the Communist party government.
Strong results in these state elections would bolster Modi’s position as he faces economic and foreign policy challenges, including high unemployment and an unresolved trade deal with the United States.
