India news: Modi claims victory in West Bengal election
What you need to know
- Votes are being counted in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry
- Prime Minister Modi hailed a "record win" for his BJP party in West Bengal
- Congress ist set to win in Kerala, defeating the Left Front
- Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to win Tamil Nadu in electoral debut
Here's a roundup of the major headlines out of India on Monday, May 4:
Skip next section TVK emerges as Tamil Nadu's largest party05/04/2026May 4, 2026
TVK emerges as Tamil Nadu's largest party
Actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, is set to win Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections, signaling a significant political shift in the state
With the majority of votes counted, the TVK is well ahead of the incumbent DMK and the BJP-supported AIDMK — both alliances made up of established parties.
The TVK has already been confirmed the winner of 106 of the legislature's 234 seats. In order to secure a majority, it needs 118. Should it fail to reach that figure, it will need to seek a coalition partner.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DG2fSkip next section Who is the actor that is taking Tamil Nadu by storm?05/04/2026May 4, 2026Who is the actor that is taking Tamil Nadu by storm?
In Tamil Nadu, popular movie star Joseph Vijay, is on course to oust the ruling DMK party. What's truely impressive is that he launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party only two years ago.
Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most developed states, has a history of electing movie stars to the top office. Even then, many Indian celebrities with massive popularity have failed to covert support for their movies into support at the ballots.
Like earlier actor-politicians in Tamil Nadu such as MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Vijay's entry has drawn strong attention.
His appeal among young voters, along with fan clubs turning into political cadres, gives him a ready grassroots network. He has promised clean governance, no corruption, better education, and welfare policies, though his political ideology is still taking shape.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DF3zSkip next section Modi hails 'record' victory in West BengalPublished 05/04/2026Published May 4, 2026last updated 05/04/2026last updated May 4, 2026Modi hails 'record' victory in West Bengal
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has celebrated what he called "a spectacular mandate" given to his ruling Hindu nationalist BJP.
West Bengal had been an opposition stronghold, but the BJP is now poised to govern the state for the first time.
Partial results released by the Election Commission of India showed the BJP ahead in at least 190 seats in the 294-member state legislature.
In a post on X, Modi said that his party would "do everything possible to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people."
https://p.dw.com/p/5DFZ8Skip next section BJP celebrates in West Bengal05/04/2026May 4, 2026BJP celebrates in West Bengal
Scenes of celebrations unfolded across West Bengal on Monday evening as the Bharatiya Janata Party looked set to gain over 200 of the 294 seats in the eastern state.
Hoards of BJP party workers paraded through the streets, playing with dry colors on the sound of traditional drums, while law enforcement officials maintained security to ensure a smooth evening.
A party office in the city of Kolkata served party workers fish curry and rice, referencing to a key point of controversy in the run up to elections.
The Hindu nationalist BJP, in some regions across India, has promoted vegetarianism amid other unofficial policies. In the midst of the campaign season in West Bengal, the TMC warned residents that if elected, the BJP would ban fish, meat and even eggs. BJP politicians denied these claims with one leader even campaigning with raw fish hung around his neck.
At the lively BJP headquarters in Kolkata, DW's Syamantak Ghosh spoke with state president Shamik Bhattacharya, who said he will address the press once the full results are announced. Supporters have already gathered near the party office, carrying flags and distributing sweets.
The scene near the residence of outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the opposite: tense and quiet. Mamata Banerjee has urged her supporters and polling agents not to leave the counting stations until the final results are declared, saying she has not yet admitted defeat.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DFLoSkip next section Congress claims 'historic' mandate in Kerala05/04/2026May 4, 2026Congress claims 'historic' mandate in Kerala
Shashi Tharoor, an Indian National Congress (INC) politician and a Member of Parliament from Kerala, said the party had received a "historic" mandate in the state.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) trends at 1:30 p.m., the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was leading in 94 out of the 140 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark. ECI data showed INC itself leading in 62 seats.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) was trailing, with leads in around 39 constituencies, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead in two seats. The INC looked set to defeat the ruling communist government, ending leftist rule in one of its last remaining strongholds in India.
"It's a historic day for us. It's a tremendous victory...even greater than we had expected. We are looking for an amazing result in Kerala, conceivably over 100 seats," Tharoor said.
Speaking on the Left's decline in the state, Tharoor said: "In some ways, it is a closing of a big chapter in India's democratic political history."
https://p.dw.com/p/5DEydSkip next section India election results: BJP on track to to win in two of four states05/04/2026May 4, 2026India election results: BJP on track to to win in two of four states
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party is on course to win two of the four crucial state elections on Monday, expanding its map of influence midway through his third term in office.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to return to power in Assam for a third straight term and is leading decisively in West Bengal — a state where it has never previously been elected to power before. Until 2021, the BJP only had three of the nearly 300 seats in the state legislature.
Experts say the BJP's lead in West Bengal reflects more of a rejection of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) than an outright endorsement of Modi's Hindu nationalist party.
As of 2:20 p.m., the BJP was leading in 195 of the 294 seats in West Bengal, according to News channel India Today. In 2021 legislative elections, the TMC won 215 seats, while the BJP secured 77 seats.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DDJISkip next section India election results: Mamata Banerjee alleges BJP conspiracy as early trends signal possible upset05/04/2026May 4, 2026India election results: Mamata Banerjee alleges BJP conspiracy as early trends signal possible upset
West Bengal incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged her party's counting agents to remain at stronghold centers on Monday, alleging a BJP conspiracy to tamper with votes.
Every political party has representatives present at vote-counting centers.
In a video posted on social media, Banerjee alleged that the ruling party at the national level had already intimidated voters and was now seeking to manipulate the results.
As of 1 p.m., most major Indian news outlets showed the BJP leading in about 190 of the 294 seats. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was leading in 97 seats, according to India Today.
"I have been saying since yesterday that the initial rounds of counting will show them ahead," she said, adding that her party was ahead in up to 100 other seats that she claimed were not being represented in media coverage.
She further alleged India's election body was biased and was "playing" by its own rules. The incumbent chief minister has made several such remarks in the days leading up to the vote count.
She urged TMC party members to not be upset and said the "real results" would become clear later in the evening.
The 71-year-old Banerjee has been in power in West Bengal since 2011, but has faced growing criticism over allegations of corruption, uneven development in the state and women's safety under her administration.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DCxaSkip next section Operation Sindoor a model of 'technological warfare,' says Indian defense minister05/04/2026May 4, 2026Operation Sindoor a model of 'technological warfare,' says Indian defense minister
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh lauded India's armed forces for its preparedness in the face of "changing circumstances," adding that "Operation Sindoor" was a key example of this.
He made the comments ahead of the one-year anniversary of clashes between India and Pakistan.
"Operation Sindoor" was a targeted, multi-front military operation launched by India in May 2025, in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan for sponsoring the attack and targeted what it described as terrorist sites in retaliation.
Pakistan denied the allegations of supporting extremists and accused India of targeting civilians during "Operation Sindoor."
The operation marked the beginning of days-long clashes between the neighboring rivals, bringing them dangerously close to all-out war.
"I believe Operation Sindoor is a model of technological warfare in itself... and has proved that our forces are understanding the changes and are also using them with confidence," Singh said at the North Tech Symposium.
"It is still a good thing that we showed patience and eliminated only the terrorists; otherwise, the entire world now understands what our forces are capable of," he added, in a thinly veiled slight to Pakistan.
What lies ahead for India and Pakistan in Kashmir?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DD8DSkip next section YouTuber 'BeerBiceps' announces documentary on comedy show controversy 05/04/2026May 4, 2026YouTuber 'BeerBiceps' announces documentary on comedy show controversy
Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, announced that he is working on a detailed documentary on the "India's Got Latent" controversy, which gripped national attention in early 2025.
He revealed the project in a recent behind-the-scenes video from an appearance alongside comedian Samay Raina on "The Great Indian Kapil Show." The appearance marked Allahbadia and Raina's first public reunion since the row.
The controversy dates back to early 2025, when a clip from Raina's YouTube show "India's Got Latent" went viral, showing Allahbadia asking a contestant an explicit and widely criticized question.
The backlash triggered multiple police complaints, death threats, regulatory scrutiny and a broader debate over online content standards. Raina was forced to delete the show from YouTube and recently addressed the episode in a comedy special, which was also uploaded to the platform.
Comedians in India have long faced backlash over political skits or jokes considered to be immodest by some.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DCYLSkip next section Eight dead after car plows into crowd aiding accident victims05/04/2026May 4, 2026Eight dead after car plows into crowd aiding accident victims
At least eight people were killed and several others injured on Monday after a speeding car rammed into a crowd gathered to help victims of an earlier motorcycle collision.
The incident occurred late Sunday in Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar district, a region already in the news after the bodies of a woman and her four children were found in their home this weekend.
As per authorities, two motorcycles had earlier collided, leaving two people injured. As local residents assembled to assist them, a speeding car plowed into the crowd.
The Hindustan Times reported that victims from both accidents were taken to the community health center, where doctors declared six to be dead on arrival. Two others later succumbed to their injuries.
Road accidents and resultant deaths are common in India due to a range of reasons, including poorly maintained roads and negligent driving.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DCQSSkip next section India election results: BJP takes early lead over TMC in West Bengal05/04/2026May 4, 2026India election results: BJP takes early lead over TMC in West Bengal
A couple of hours into the count, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a surprising lead in West Bengal. This is a state where the Hindu nationalist Party has never won elections before.
The BJP mounted an aggressive bid to unseat West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been in power in the state of 100 million people since 2011.
"The entire country has its eyes on this state's election results," political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty told AFP in the capital city of Kolkata. "The contest can tilt the balance of power."
The campaign season this time was marked by protests over the removal of millions of names from voter rolls, a move billed as an effort to remove ineligible voters but which critics said disproportionately affected marginalized and minority communities.
A BJP victory in this state, however, would likely be seen as a rejection of the TMC than as decisive popular support endorsement of the BJP.
What about the rest?
In Assam and Puducherry, the BJP is leading largely as expected. In Kerala, the Congress-led alliance is ahead. Some major Indian news channels have already called the elections in Assam and Kerala in favor of the BJP and Congress, respectively, though official confirmation will come later in the day.
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar has taken a strong early lead, signaling a potential upset for more established parties.
Popularly known by his stage name 'Thalapathy,' Chandrasekhar could emerge as one of the rare shining examples of Indian film actors successfully converting celebrity appeal into electoral success.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DCK4Skip next section India state election results: What to expect05/04/2026May 4, 2026India state election results: What to expect
State legislative elections were held in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, and the union territory of Puducherry, over the course of the past month.
West Bengal
Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to expand its presence in West Bengal in a closely contested election against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress.
The state recorded a turnout of 92.47%, among the highest in its electoral history. Modi told a campaign rally the "final phase will make sure the BJP comes to power," while exit polls indicated an edge for the party.
Banerjee alleged irregularities during voting, saying "manipulation is taking place" in several areas.
Tamil Nadu
Exit polls in Tamil Nadu indicated the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance under current Chief Minister MK Stalin is set to retain power.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), supported by the BJP, is projected to fall short in its challenge.
Some projections also point to actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) making significant gains in its electoral debut, potentially emerging as the single-largest party.
Assam
Several exit polls projected a clear majority for the BJP in Assam, indicating that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is set to retain power for a third consecutive term.
At least four surveys showed the NDA crossing the majority mark in the 126-member state assembly, extending a decade of BJP-led rule in the northeastern state.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expected to return for a second consecutive term.
Kerala
Exit polls indicate a potential comeback for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala. All polls unanimously predict the UDF emerging victorious.
The BJP has never won an assembly election in the state, which remains a stronghold for India's biggest opposition, the Indian National Congress.
Puducherry
Most projections suggest that the BJP-supported alliance will retain power in the coastal region.
Note: Exit polls in India have had a mixed accuracy record.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DCJySkip next section Vote counting gets underway05/04/2026May 4, 2026Vote counting gets underway
Counting of votes began in four states, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the smaller territory of Puducherry, at 8 a.m. local time (0230 GMT).
The Election Commission of India has deployed additional counting and police observers in West Bengal, where a close contest is expected. A three-tier security arrangement, including armored vehicles, has been put in place in the eastern state. Several local businesses and schools have remained closed for the day amid speculation that violence could erupt if the incumbent party loses.
Early trends have already started coming in, and I will expand on that in a separate post. A clearer view will emerge sometime midday.
Once multiple rounds of counting are completed, the Election Commission will announce the final winners for each constituency.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DC8nSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/04/2026May 4, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Mahima Kapoor | Roshni Majumdar EditorGood morning! And welcome to DW’s India news blog.
This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi bureau, and I will be bringing you all the major updates and conversations from across India.
India's weather department has issued a 'red' alert for severe thunderstorms and hailstorms in New Delhi, while parts of the National Capital Region have been put under an 'orange' alert. West Bengal, too, is experiencing stormy winds and bursts of rainfall.
My poetic alter ego would say the weather merely reflects the expected upheaval in Indian politics.
Vote counting is underway today in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, along with the union territory of Puducherry. Some of these regions recorded historic voter turnouts after an aggressive season of campaigning for high-stakes polls.
Projections suggest mixed outcomesin West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to make inroads in three states where it has never held power.
Some suggest the BJP will tighten its grip in states like Assam and others say regional parties will hold their ground in key battlegrounds — setting the stage for results that could reshape India's political map.
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