In the 2026 Indian state elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved sweeping victories in West Bengal and Assam. In West Bengal, the BJP ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year Trinamool Congress rule by winning 202 of 294 seats, while Trinamool secured 71. The Congress won 2 seats and the CPI(M) 1. In Assam, the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third consecutive term, with the BJP alone winning 82 of 126 seats. The NDA also retained control in the union territory of Puducherry.

In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made a historic debut by winning 105 seats, becoming the single largest party and positioning Vijay as a potential chief minister. The DMK and AIADMK won 58 and 46 seats respectively. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF regained power after ending a decade of Left Democratic Front rule, securing a majority with Congress winning 63 seats and CPI(M) 26.

The results mark a major political shift across several Indian states, reshaping regional power balances and leadership dynamics.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of large-scale electoral fraud after the party took a strong lead in the state elections. Speaking to reporters on May 4, 2026, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had 'stolen more than 100 seats' and that the Election Commission had turned into a 'BJP commission'. She claimed that repeated complaints were ignored by authorities.

Banerjee further alleged that the BJP’s victory was unethical and that the Prime Minister and Home Minister were complicit in manipulating the Election Commission. She accused officials of coercion, abuse, and arresting counting agents, vowing to continue the political fight. As of 8:30 p.m., the BJP had won 136 seats and was leading in 72 more, while the Trinamool Congress had secured 49 seats and was ahead in 30, according to BBC Bangla.

The allegations have heightened political tension in West Bengal as counting continues and official results are awaited.

Fatema Thahliya of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) won the Perambra assembly constituency in Kerala, a traditional Left stronghold, defeating LDF convenor and veteran CPI(M) leader Ramakrishnan. The 34-year-old secured 63,999 votes, winning by a margin of 4,700. With this victory, she became the first woman legislator in IUML’s history.

Born in Peruvayal, Kozhikode district, Thahliya began her political journey through student politics, leading the Muslim Students Federation before serving as a councillor in Kozhikode Corporation. She currently serves as the state secretary of the Muslim Youth League. A lawyer by profession, she holds degrees from Government Law Colleges in Kozhikode and Thrissur and practices at the Calicut District Court.

Her campaign faced intense online harassment and cyberattacks, particularly targeting her identity as a hijab-wearing Muslim woman. Despite the challenges and controversies, including communal polarization allegations during the campaign, her victory is seen as signaling a new political equation in Kerala’s landscape.

A report from Amader Desh describes growing fears among residents of West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Malda districts following India’s Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Many Muslim families, including government officials and professionals, have found their names missing from the voter list despite submitting valid documents. The exclusions have caused distress, with some individuals unable to access basic rights such as obtaining passports or medical care.

Data from the Shabar Institute and Alt News indicate that around 9.2 million people have been removed or placed under adjudication, 60 percent of whom are Muslims. The report alleges that the process disproportionately affects Muslim-majority areas and high-profile constituencies, suggesting a pattern of systematic disenfranchisement. It also links the exclusions to political motives, citing leaked footage of alleged deals to divide Muslim votes in favor of the ruling party.

Human rights groups warn that the situation could escalate into a regional crisis, with reports of forced pushbacks at the Bangladesh border and fears of a refugee influx, raising concerns about cross-border instability in South Asia.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election as a historic event, declaring that the 'lotus has bloomed' in the state. In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Modi expressed gratitude to the people of West Bengal for giving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) what he called an unprecedented mandate. He said the victory represented the triumph of people's power and the politics of good governance.

Modi assured that the incoming BJP government would work to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the state's citizens. He emphasized that the new administration would strive to ensure equal opportunity and dignity for all sections of society. His reference to the 'lotus' symbolized the BJP’s electoral symbol and the party’s success in the state.

According to the report, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress suffered a major defeat after three consecutive terms, paving the way for the BJP to form the next government in West Bengal.

The history of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly began on February 1, 1862, when Bengal’s first Legislative Council met at Belvedere in Alipore under Governor John Peter Grant. Formed under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, the council initially had 12 nominated members. Over the decades, membership expanded, and by 1919 the council had 125 members with a formal presiding officer. The first elected members joined in 1892, marking the start of representative participation.

The assembly’s current building was founded in 1928 and inaugurated in 1931. The Government of India Act of 1935 created a bicameral legislature with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The first assembly election in 1937 produced a hung house, leading A.K. Fazlul Huq to form a coalition government. After India’s independence, 90 members from West Bengal joined the reconstituted provincial legislature in 1947, and the first state assembly session under the Indian Constitution was held in 1952.

In 1969, the Legislative Council was abolished, making the West Bengal legislature unicameral. The assembly now has 294 members, reduced from 295 after the Anglo-Indian reserved seat was removed in 2019.

West Bengal witnessed a dramatic political shift on May 4, 2026, as early vote counts indicated the end of Trinamool Congress’s fifteen-year rule. According to the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in 192 constituencies, surpassing the majority mark, while the Trinamool Congress trailed with 97. The sweeping results triggered widespread unrest across the state, with reports of violence against ruling party workers. Security was tightened around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, and the Election Commission ordered deployment of central forces.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari attributed the victory to strategic religious polarization, claiming consolidation of Hindu votes and erosion of Trinamool’s traditional Muslim support base. Analysts cited multiple factors behind Trinamool’s decline, including dissatisfaction among minority voters over OBC certificate cancellations, discontent over Waqf property management, and administrative controversies. The exclusion of about 9.1 million names from voter rolls and corruption scandals in education and ration distribution further weakened the ruling party.

Observers noted that record voter turnout above 92 percent reflected a strong desire for change, marking a decisive end to Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing dominance in West Bengal politics.

Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the next government in West Bengal. He made the statement to reporters as counting of votes for the state assembly election began on May 4, 2026. Adhikari asserted that the BJP would ultimately have the last laugh as early results started to emerge.

According to initial counting trends, the BJP was leading in the state while the ruling Trinamool Congress trailed behind. The counting process was still underway when Adhikari made his remarks. The report cited The Indian Express as its source for the information.

The early lead suggested a potential shift in West Bengal’s political landscape, though final results were yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting.

Preliminary vote counting trends suggest that Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is heading toward an unexpected defeat in West Bengal. The 71-year-old leader, known for her combative spirit and strong grassroots connection, is facing what many describe as the toughest battle of her political career. Since 2011, Banerjee has dominated the state’s politics after ending decades of Left rule.

According to a BBC report from New Delhi, Banerjee faced a far more aggressive and organized campaign from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) this time. Several surveys had predicted a close contest, while allegations of corruption and violence against the Trinamool Congress intensified after more than a decade in power. Early trends also indicate a tight race between Banerjee and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in her own Bhabanipur constituency.

If Banerjee loses, analysts suggest it could mark a historic political shift in West Bengal and potentially signal the end of an era in the state’s politics.

Muslim voters play a central role in West Bengal’s electoral dynamics, accounting for about 27 percent of the state’s population. Their presence is particularly strong in politically decisive districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, and parts of South Bengal. According to BBC correspondent Soutik Biswas, Muslim populations exceed 30 percent in around 88 of the state’s 294 constituencies, making their votes crucial in determining electoral outcomes.

The 2021 election underscored this influence when the Trinamool Congress won 75 of 85 Muslim-majority seats, signaling strong consolidation behind Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. For the Bharatiya Janata Party, gaining power in Bengal depends on dividing or weakening this voter bloc while uniting Hindu votes. Biswas noted that issues such as “infiltration,” border districts, and demographic change featured prominently in BJP’s campaign.

The current election has become more contentious, with critics alleging that a controversial voter list revision disproportionately affected Muslim voters in several districts, raising concerns about fairness and representation.

Vote counting for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election began under tight security on Monday morning, May 4, 2026, at 8 a.m. local time. The election was held in two phases on April 23 and 29 across 294 constituencies, though one seat’s polling was canceled by the Election Commission due to irregularities. Counting is taking place for 293 seats at 77 centers across 23 districts, including Kolkata.

Postal ballots are being counted first, followed by votes cast through electronic voting machines (EVMs). According to early counting trends, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading. The process is being conducted simultaneously across all designated centers under strict security arrangements.

Preliminary results indicate that BJP is ahead in 193 constituencies, while the Trinamool Congress is leading in 96. The final outcome will depend on the completion of the full counting process.

A devastating fire broke out early Sunday in a four-storey residential building in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area, reportedly triggered by an air conditioner explosion. The blaze, which began around 4 a.m. on the second floor, quickly spread to the upper levels, killing nine members of the same family, including a one-and-a-half-year-old child. Two others were rescued with burn injuries and hospitalized. Fourteen fire service units reached the scene and brought the fire under control after two hours of effort.

According to East Delhi’s Shahdara Division DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena, the victims’ bodies were recovered after the fire was extinguished and have been identified. Witnesses and local residents claimed the fire started from the AC blast. Between 12 and 15 people were rescued alive from the building.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the incident as extremely tragic and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. She said the local administration, fire service, and police were engaged in rescue operations and assured full support to the affected families.

India’s Election Commission (ECI) has ordered a complete re-vote in all polling booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal. The decision, announced on May 3, 2026, follows allegations of serious electoral offences and disruption of the democratic process during the April 29 voting. According to the ECI directive, fresh polling will be held on May 21 across 285 booths, including auxiliary ones, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with results to be declared on May 24. Vote counting for the state’s other 293 constituencies will proceed on May 4.

The decision comes amid intense political confrontation between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP alleged that electronic voting machines in several booths were tampered with to block its symbol, while the TMC denied the charge, accusing the BJP of spreading false claims to mask its impending defeat. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee challenged the BJP on social media, calling the re-vote a test of the “Diamond Harbour model.”

Earlier, re-polling had been held in 15 booths of Falta and Magrahat West due to irregularities, where voter turnout exceeded 90 percent. Police later arrested three TMC workers over alleged intimidation and violence during that process.

The 2026 West Bengal assembly election has concluded, drawing attention to the political and social transformation of former enclave residents in Cooch Behar. These communities, once stateless and deprived of basic services, became Indian citizens after the 2015 land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh, which exchanged 162 enclaves. Villages like Poaturkuthi and Mashaldanga now have electricity, roads, and schools, but residents say many promises remain unfulfilled.

Interviews with villagers reveal frustration over incomplete land ownership documentation, limited job opportunities, and the rise of political divisions. Once united in their struggle for citizenship, former enclave residents are now split among parties such as the Trinamool Congress, BJP, and left groups. Some attribute this division to local political pressure and personal interests, while others lament the loss of unity that once defined their movement.

Community leaders and residents express that despite improvements in infrastructure, the expected social and economic benefits have not fully materialized. The story of these former enclaves reflects both progress and disillusionment in the post-exchange years.

A group of Indian sailors stranded at Iran’s Khorramshahr port during the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel returned to Mumbai on Friday. They described their ordeal of being trapped without internet access and witnessing missiles flying overhead. One sailor from Haryana said they were unaware of the war until they saw missiles, while another from Uttar Pradesh recounted sleepless nights as frequent strikes made survival difficult. Only three Indian crew members remained at the port until their eventual return.

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has urged the Indian government to intensify efforts to evacuate other sailors still stuck in the conflict zone. FSUI General Secretary Manoj Kumar Yadav called the situation extremely serious and alleged that sailors were facing exploitation and financial distress. India, one of the world’s top three suppliers of seafarers, employs over 300,000 people in the profession.

According to India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 2,680 sailors have been repatriated from Iran since the conflict began. Three Indian sailors have died so far, and on April 18, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on two India-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.