politics
BJP Wins 207 Seats in West Bengal Assembly Elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party won a majority in West Bengal state elections, defeating the Trinamool Congress after three terms. The victory gives the National Democratic Alliance influence over about 70 percent of India's state legislatures.
May 5, 7:14 PM·1m read3 sources
South China Morning PostAudio version
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The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance secured 207 seats in the West Bengal assembly elections, ending three consecutive terms for Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government. According to the results, the outcome expands the ruling alliance’s direct influence to roughly 70 percent of India’s state legislatures.
The vote represents a shift in a state that had long resisted BJP advances due to its regional identity and established political networks.
Traffic moved past streets lined with Trinamool Congress flags in Kolkata on the day results emerged. The victory followed sustained efforts by the BJP to expand beyond its traditional strongholds. West Bengal voters delivered the outcome after the Trinamool Congress had ruled the state for multiple terms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had faced questions about his leadership after the 2024 national elections in which his party lost its parliamentary majority and was forced to form a coalition government. The expanded NDA reach now covers most major states. This structure allows greater coordination on policy across regions, according to reporting on the elections.
The win leaves fewer states outside the coalition’s direct influence. Remaining opposition parties now operate from a narrower base of state governments. No specific policy commitments tied to the state outcome were detailed in primary election reporting.
