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New DELHI: India’s ruling party on Sunday suffered a defeat in a major regional election that was seen as a barometer of Premier Narendra Modi’s popularity and whether his government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 crisis could dent its political fortunes.
In West Bengal, the incumbent chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s regional Trinamool Congress secured the majority with more than 148 in 294 seat state legislative assembly, the Election Commission website showed. It was projected to score an impressive win, with 176 seats and leading in 39 more. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 57 seats and was ahead in 18 more.
The Bengal polls were the most crucial among elections also held in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala states as well as federally-administered territory of Puducherry, that counted votes on Sunday.
The BJP campaigned heavily in Bengal, a stronghold of opposition against Modi, to dislodge Banerjee who has been in power for two terms.
Even with a surge in virus cases and the death toll, Modi and other politicians held huge rallies across the state, which critics said contributed to the spread of the disease. In Assam, the BJP managed to retain power, albeit putting up a weaker performance than the previous election, the results showed.
In the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, BJP rivals, a left-wing coalition and regional Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, respectively, scored easy victories. Political analysts said the defeat in Bengal will further push BJP - facing widespread criticism of its management of the pandemic - on the back foot. (dpa)
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03/05/2021
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