India news: West Bengal wakes to a new political reality

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• India takes stock of wins and losses a day after high-stakes state election results
• Modi's BJP claims first-ever win in opposition stronghold West Bengal 
• Modi says 'politics of good governance has triumphed'
• Three Indians injured in alleged Iranian attack on Fujairah, UAE 
• India says targeting innocent civilians 'unacceptable'

Here's a roundup of the major headlines from India on Tuesday, May 5: 

Skip next section India condemns drone strike on UAE05/05/2026May 5, 2026

India condemns drone strike on UAE

India on Tuesday condemned a drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, which also left three Indians injured.

"Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. "India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy," he wrote. 

The UAE blamed Iran for the drone attack on Monday, but Iranian state TV said the Islamic Republic had "no pre-planned program" to attack oil facilities.

"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement Tuesday.

Jaiswal also called for "free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz," adding that India was ready to support all efforts towards a peaceful Resolution.

India's heavy dependence on imported goods, especially oil and gas, has significantly impacted everyday life in the world's most populous nation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war has not only led to a shortage in cooking gas but also impacted several industries facing shortages of raw materials.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DHdfSkip next section India state election results: What you need to know05/05/2026May 5, 2026

India state election results: What you need to know

The counting of votes for the states of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry took place on Monday, May 4.

Here's what you need to know about the results: 

West Bengal 

• Narendra Modi's BJP won 206 out of 294 seats
• This is BJP's first ever win in the state
• Current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost in her own constituency
• Her loss is partly attributed to economic stagnation, deteriorating infrastructure and worsening safety of women during her time in office. 
• First election after Modi-led controversial revision of electoral rolls which Banerjee said was done to manipulate elections

Tamil Nadu

• Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay emerges victorious in his first electoral contest
• Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won at least 108 of the 234 seats
• Incumbent DMK only won in 59 seats while BJP supported AIDMK won 47 seats
• Lack of absolute majority means Vijay will likely have to enter alliance to form a government
• In February, TVK had said it would not form alliance with BJP

Kerala

• India's largest national opposition Congress party scored a win in Kerala through a regional alliance
• Congress-led UDF won 102 of the 140 seats
• The Left alliance, currently in power, won only 35 seats
• This marks the end of Leftist rule in the state, a historical milestone

Assam

• The BJP-led NDA alliance gained a record victory
• NDA won 102 of the 126 seats, BJP itself won 82 seats
• This will be BJP's third straight term in the northeastern state
• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will likely return to the state's top role

Puducherry

• BJP-led alliance set to return to power in the union territory
• NDA won 18 of the 30 seats
• BJP's tally down to four seats from the current six seats
   

https://p.dw.com/p/5DHPKSkip next section West Bengal welcomes Modi, bids Mamata adieu05/05/2026May 5, 2026

West Bengal welcomes Modi, bids Mamata adieu

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party has swept to an electoral victory in a state long held by one of his biggest adversaries.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won at least 206 out of the 294 assembly seats, according to the Election Commission of India's Website. This marks the BJP's first-ever win in the eastern state. 

The victory should put Modi on a stronger footing as he confronts a series of economic and foreign policy challenges, including high unemployment rates and a pending US trade deal, ahead of the general election in 2029.

"The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever," Modi, 75, said on social media. "People's power has prevailed and BJP's politics of good governance has triumphed."

"BJP's record win in West Bengal would not be possible without the efforts and struggles of countless Karyakartas (workers) over generations," he added.

Thousands of BJP party workers, supporters and local residents turned out to celebrate in Kolkata late on Monday. They waved party flags, danced atop their cars and swayed to music, blocking several key areas of the city.  

The result was the culmination of a long and aggressive election season that dislodged one of the most powerful political figures of the nation—Mamata Banerjee. 

The 71-year-old Banerjee, visibly agitated after the results, accused the BJP and the Election Commission of manipulating the results. "BJP looted more than 100 seats," she said, surrounded by security personnel on Monday evening. Banerjee also lost in her own constituency, Bhawanipur. 

Political analyst Sushila Ramaswamy said the BJP's victory in West Bengal would consolidate the party's hold over eastern India. "It's a tremendous victory," she said.

"It also shows the electoral machinery of the BJP, how effective and how much detailing goes into their election campaign. And it establishes the BJP as the dominant party in the country."

https://p.dw.com/p/5DHJZSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/05/2026May 5, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Mahima Kapoor | Roshni Majumdar Editor

Good morning! Welcome to DW's India news blog. 

This is Mahima Kapoor from DW's New Delhi bureau, bringing you everything you need to know from the country today.

India is still making sense of the results of the high-stake legislative elections in four states and one union territory. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party secured a sweeping win in the eastern state of West Bengal, as people voted for change and anti-incumbency against current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

The mood in the state's capital city, Kolkata, is both jubilant and tense. Many residents were waking after a night of celebrating out on the streets. Others were carefully stepping out for their workday amid fear of clashes between workers of the two parties. 

In Tamil Nadu, an actor has once again emerged as a people's politician. Joseph Vijay was victorious in his electoral debut but failed to win a majority, which means an alliance is now on the cards. 

Moving away from national politics, three Indians were reportedly injured in a drone attack in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India's External Affairs Ministry has once again called for a suspension of hostilities in the Gulf.

Keeping reading as we break these events down for you here in this blog.

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