The recent assembly elections have signaled potential shifts in the political landscape, particularly in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, while also indicating outcomes in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on track to establish its first government in West Bengal, marking a significant milestone for the party in a state historically dominated by the Congress, Left parties, and later the Trinamool Congress. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also poised to reshape Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics, challenging the long-standing dominance of Dravidian parties.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to secure a sweeping victory in Assam. Simultaneously, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is projected to win in Kerala, and the NR Congress-led alliance is anticipated to form the government in Puducherry. These election results reflect evolving voter preferences and the impact of various political strategies employed by different parties.
As per information available with TahirRihat.com, the BJP’s anticipated victory in West Bengal holds particular importance, given the party’s historical position as a marginal player in the state. West Bengal is also the home state of the BJP’s ideologue, Syama Prasad Mookerji. In the previous assembly polls, the BJP secured 77 seats. Recent results from the Election Commission of India (ECI) indicate that the BJP is leading in 191 seats and has already won seven out of the 293 seats where counting has been completed. This reflects the effectiveness of the BJP’s campaign, which focused on issues targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The BJP also intensified its efforts with promises aimed at various segments of society during the election, which saw heightened contention over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. In contrast, the Trinamool Congress, which had previously dominated the assembly by winning 212 out of 294 seats, is currently leading in only 88 seats and has secured one seat. The Congress and Left parties continue to struggle in the state, with Congress leading in two seats and the Left parties in one. The Trinamool Congress has governed West Bengal for the past 15 years.
In Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s emergence has disrupted the political landscape traditionally dominated by the two Dravidian parties for over six decades. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading in 105 seats and has won three. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is leading in 52 seats and has won six, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is leading in 45. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is leading on 5, Congress is leading on four seats and has won one, BJP is leading on three, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) is leading on one, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on two, Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMKMNKZ) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) is leading on two seats. Polling was conducted for all 234 seats in the state.
Current trends suggest that Vijay will not secure a majority in the 234-member state assembly, necessitating support from other parties to form a government. Vijay’s support base largely stems from the youth, leveraging the significant influence film stars hold in the southern state. He combined his popularity with a platform that capitalized on the anti-incumbency sentiment against the DMK-led government. Voters in Tamil Nadu, seemingly weary of the alternating power dynamic between the DMK and AIADMK-led alliances, have shown support for a new contender offering a different perspective.
The Congress-led UDF is on course for a significant victory in Kerala, potentially forming the government after 10 years of rule by the Left Democratic Front (LDF). While the victory in Kerala serves as a morale boost for the Congress, the party did not meet expectations in Assam, where its top state leader, Gaurav Gogoi, lost his election. Despite running a more unified campaign compared to the last assembly polls, where it failed to unseat the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the Congress left the decision of who would be Chief Minister to be settled after the polls. The win in Kerala is a significant achievement for the Congress following a series of losses in assembly polls since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress was seen to have allowed a victory in the Haryana polls to slip from its grasp.
The Congress has secured 39 seats in Kerala and is leading in 24 seats. The CPI(M) has won 19 seats and is leading in seven, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has won nine and is leading in 13. The CPI has won five seats and is leading in three, and the Kerala Congress (KEC) has won six seats and one is sealed. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has won three seats, and the BJP has won two seats and is leading in one. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP President in Kerala, stated that the party received support from all sections of society.
Chandrasekhar added, “We saw the local body elections when the people of Thiruvananthapuram gave the NDA the mandate to govern the municipal corporation. In this election, there was a strong anti-incumbency against the CPM. We have put forth a vision of PM for development and opportunities for all,” (Chandrasekhar said). In Assam, the BJP-led NDA aimed for its third consecutive win in assembly polls and has performed as expected, with the alliance winning close to 100 seats in the 126-member House.
This election marks the first assembly election in the state with Himanta Biswa Sarma as Chief Minister, and the party has improved its performance compared to the 2021 polls. The BJP is currently leading in 69 seats in Assam and has won 13. The Congress is leading on 20 seats, the Bodoland Peoples Front (BoPF) on nine, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on eight, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) on two. The Raijor Dal (RJRD) is leading on two, the Trinamool Congress on one, and an independent candidate on one.
In Puducherry, the NR Congress has won nine seats and is leading in two. The DMK is leading on four and has won one, the BJP is leading on one seat and has won two, TVK has won one seat and is leading on one seat. The Congress and AIADMK have each secured one seat.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply