ALBAWABA- At least four people were killed and hundreds arrested in violent clashes across India’s eastern state of West Bengal following a landmark election victory by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which defeated the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Authorities said more than 200 criminal cases had been registered statewide, with 433 people arrested as of Wednesday, according to West Bengal Police chief Siddh Nath Gupta. The unrest included deadly attacks, vandalism of political offices, and clashes between rival party supporters.
Among those killed was Chandranath Rath, a close aide to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead by motorcycle-borne attackers in the North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
Both the BJP and TMC blamed each other for the violence. The BJP accused TMC supporters of targeting its workers. At the same time, the TMC alleged retaliatory attacks by BJP activists and called for a court-monitored investigation by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Election Commission of India ordered state authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to post-election unrest and to deploy additional central security forces across sensitive areas.
The 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election marked a major political shift in eastern India. The BJP secured around 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, enabling the party to form a government in the state for the first time. The TMC won roughly 80 seats, a sharp decline from its previous majority.
In one of the election’s biggest upsets, Suvendu Adhikari, a former TMC leader who defected to the BJP, defeated Mamata Banerjee in her Bhabanipur constituency by a wide margin. Banerjee, who has governed West Bengal since 2011, rejected the results as an “immoral victory,” alleging collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP. She accused authorities of manipulating the outcome and “looting” seats, but said she would not resign immediately.
The campaign was marked by intense political rivalry, accusations of intimidation, and sporadic violence. The BJP centered its campaign on governance reforms, economic development, and tackling alleged corruption under TMC rule, while the TMC defended its welfare policies and accused the BJP of promoting divisive politics.
West Bengal has long experienced politically charged elections and post-poll violence, including during previous electoral cycles. The latest result significantly strengthens the BJP’s influence in eastern India and represents one of the party’s most consequential regional victories in recent years.
