India elections reshape power across key states

India’s latest round of state elections has delivered major political shifts across four states and a union territory.

Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, along with the union territory of Puducherry, went to the polls in this cycle. Together, they saw more than 154 million people vote, making this one of the largest democratic exercises outside a general election.

For New Zealand readers, this matters more than it might first appear. India is an increasingly important partner for New Zealand, across trade, migration and the broader Indo-Pacific. Political shifts in India often signal changes in policy direction, stability and how the country engages with the world.

The results have strengthened the position of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Opposition parties now hold power in just seven of India’s 28 states. As a New York Times report explained, “The outcome strengthens the B.J.P.’s national momentum ahead of the 2029 general election, bolsters its position in Parliament and deals a significant blow to regional political forces, advancing the B.J.P.’s push toward a more centralized, unitary model of governance.”

Here is a closer look at what happened in each state, and why it matters.

West Bengal – History Created

We start with West Bengal, the eastern Indian state that had much of the country watching closely.

Home to more than 100 million people, West Bengal has long been known for resisting Delhi-centric politics. Its political journey moved from Congress dominance to 34 years of Marxist rule under the Left Front, followed by 15 years under former Chief Minister of the State, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. The Indian National Congress, often called Congress, is one of India’s oldest political parties and currently the main opposition to the BJP. It led India’s government for much of the country’s post-independence history. It is also worth to note that Banerjee is one vocal critics of Modi.

That pattern has now been broken and history was created.

The BJP won 206 out of 294 seats, a dramatic rise from just three seats a decade ago. The result ends Banerjee’s 15-year rule and marks one of the party’s most significant victories in the state. Voter turnout stood at 92.47 percent.

In a celebratory speech to party workers in New Delhi, Modi said, “We have created a new history today. Our constitutional institutions have won, our democratic processes have won.”

The win has major implications for India’s political landscape and deals another blow to an already weakened opposition.

One issue that has drawn scrutiny is the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India. Some estimates suggest that around 9.1 million names were deleted from the register, more than 10 percent of the electorate. While many were reported to be duplicates or deceased voters, about 2.7 million people challenged their removal but were still excluded. The Guardian reported, “Analysis showed that Muslims and other minorities – who traditionally do not support the BJP – were disproportionately targeted.”

What this means: A breakthrough win for the BJP in a state that long resisted national party dominance.

Assam – BJP continues to rule

In Assam, the story is more about continuity.

The north-eastern state has been governed by a BJP-led alliance since 2016, when it unseated a three-term Congress government. This time, the alliance has retained power comfortably.

Himanta Biswa Sarma will continue for a second term as chief minister. The BJP won 82 seats on its own, while the BJP-led alliance crossed the 100-seat mark. Voter turnout stood at 85.38 percent.

“For the first time, the 100-mark has been breached by an incumbent alliance in the state,” Sarma said, adding that BJP for the first time attained a majority in the house on its own.

What this means: The BJP has consolidated its position in the north-east and retained voter support.

Tamil Nadu - A new star power emerges

Tamil Nadu tells a very different story.

Actor Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, founded just two years ago, won 108 out of 234 seats. Voter turnout stood at 85.10 percent.

The result is historic. For the first time since 1967, the state will be governed by a party with no ties to the Dravidian movement, a long-standing political and cultural force that has shaped regional identity and social justice politics in the state.

The main Dravidian parties lost about 13 percent vote share each, while Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam made significant gains. The BJP won a single seat.

His rise was driven by his fan base and strong public appeal. A BBC report said that Vijay’s win was based on a simple message, “don’t worry about the candidates, I am contesting in all the constituencies”.

What this means: A major disruption to decades of Dravidian-led politics, driven by a new political entrant.

Kerala - Left out of power

Kerala has delivered a result that marks the end of an era.

The southern state, which once gave the world its first democratically elected communist government, has voted the Left out of power. Voter turnout stood at nearly 80 percent.

For the first time in five decades, India is without a Left-ruled state government. The Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has lost power in its last remaining stronghold. It will be replaced by the Congress-led United Democratic Front, which won 102 out of 140 seats, while the Left was reduced to 35.

What this means: The end of Left-led state governance in India, closing a long chapter in the country’s political history.

Puducherry

Puducherry, a small union territory on India’s south-eastern coast, also went to the polls.

The BJP-led alliance retained power here, continuing its presence in the territory’s coalition government. While smaller in scale, the result adds to the broader picture of the BJP holding ground across different parts of the country.

What this means: A steady hold for the BJP in smaller but strategically relevant regions.

Taken together, these results show a political map that is shifting in uneven ways.

The BJP is expanding its reach and consolidating power in key regions, while regional parties and opposition groups are losing ground in states where they were once dominant. At the same time, results like Tamil Nadu show that space still exists for new political forces to emerge.

For New Zealand audiences, these shifts are worth watching. As ties between the two countries deepen, in trade, diplomacy and people-to-people connections, changes in India’s political landscape will continue to shape how that relationship evolves.

 -Asia Media Centre

Banner Image - Election staff prepare for phase two of the West Bengal Assembly elections, carrying electronic voting machines and materials at a distribution centre in Shibpur, Howrah, on April 28, 2026. Image Credit- Election Commission of India, via Wikimedia Commons