‘Hegemonic power’: How Modi’s BJP won India’s Bengal for the first time | Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the West Bengal state elections, marking a significant shift in Indian politics. The party's victory was attributed to factors including religious polarisation and anti-incumbency against the incumbent All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP leveraged this strategy while also benefiting from a record voter turnout, with nearly 68.2 million people casting ballots. The TMC's loss is seen as a major setback for Banerjee's hopes of becoming a national challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This victory strengthens the BJP's position within India and could impact future elections.