Vote counting began under tight security in five Indian states and territories, with West Bengal the main battleground where the BJP is trying to unseat Mamata Banerjee's TMC. Exit polls give the BJP a slim lead in West Bengal but have an uneven track record in India. The campaign was clouded by protests after millions of names were removed from voter rolls, a move critics say hit marginalized and minority groups. Outcomes in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry and Kerala will shape national momentum and could bolster or weaken Prime Minister Modi amid economic strains and a pending U.S. trade deal.
Modi's BJP Tests Strength as Vote Counting Begins in Five Key Indian States
Supporters of the All India Trinamool Congress party attend a rally of Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on April 27, 2026 (Dibyangshu SARKAR)(Dibyangshu SARKAR/AFP/AFP)
Vote counting began under tight security on Monday for elections held in five pivotal Indian states and territories, with the spotlight on West Bengal where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking major gains against the incumbent All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Held across April and May, these state contests are widely seen as a barometer of public sentiment ahead of future national battles. The BJP — which governs at the national level — has campaigned aggressively to expand its influence into opposition-run states.
In West Bengal, home to roughly 100 million people, the BJP ran a high-stakes campaign to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the combative leader of the TMC who has governed the state since 2011. Exit polls released last week gave the BJP a narrow edge, but exit polling in India has an uneven record and should be treated cautiously.
"The entire country has its eyes on this state's election results. The contest can tilt the balance of power," said political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty in Kolkata.
The campaign was clouded by controversy over the removal of millions of names from electoral rolls. Election officials said the purge targeted ineligible voters, while critics argue the process disproportionately affected marginalized and minority communities and sparked widespread protests.
Speaking before counting began, Mamata Banerjee expressed confidence her party would prevail: "The BJP is not coming, take my word for it. Be patient till the last." West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya countered, saying the vote reflected a desire for change: "It was an election of rejection. People of the state want change. The ruling Trinamool Congress will be defeated."
Past elections in West Bengal have at times been marred by episodes of violence, and authorities maintained heightened security at counting centers to reduce tensions.
Other States to Watch
In Tamil Nadu — an industrial hub with more than 80 million residents — the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) under Chief Minister MK Stalin is widely expected to retain power. In Assam, an eastern state of over 31 million people, the BJP is also broadly forecast to hold onto control. Counts are underway in the small coastal union territory of Puducherry as well, where the BJP is part of a ruling coalition.
Kerala presents a tighter picture: exit polls suggest a Congress-led alliance may unseat the long-dominant Communist parties in the southern state of about 36 million residents, but margins appear narrow.
Why It Matters
Gains for the BJP across these state polls would strengthen Modi's political standing at a time when his government faces several economic and foreign-policy challenges, including high unemployment and a pending trade agreement with the United States. Conversely, setbacks could embolden opposition parties and reshape the national political landscape.
Counting will continue through the day, with results expected to provide a clearer picture of the balance of power at the state level and potential implications for national politics.
Help us improve.
