At least four people have been killed in political unrest following a major election victory by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party in West Bengal, according to police and party officials.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party swept the state assembly elections in its first ever victory in the key eastern state, winning 206 of the 294 seats, according to results announced on Tuesday. The result marks a dramatic political shift in a region long dominated by regional parties and represents one of the BJP’s most significant electoral breakthroughs outside India’s Hindi speaking heartland.
West Bengal, home to nearly 100 million people, had been governed since 2011 by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, a fierce critic and political rival of Modi. Banerjee, who leads the regional All India Trinamool Congress party, also lost her own seat in the election and has rejected the outcome, accusing the federal government of manipulating the polls.
Deadly Clashes Erupt After Results
Violence broke out in several areas shortly after the election results were declared, with clashes reported between rival supporters of the BJP and TMC. Police said unrest spread across parts of the state capital, Kolkata, as well as other districts in West Bengal.
The BJP said two of its workers were killed in attacks following the announcement of the results. TMC officials separately reported that two of their party workers had been beaten to death.
“Two of our workers were killed after results of the elections were announced on Monday,” BJP state leader Samik Bhattacharya said, while insisting the party stood “for peace.”
The TMC, meanwhile, described the killings of its supporters as “brutal murder” in a statement posted on social media.
“Our party offices were attacked in several areas of the state,” TMC spokesman Narendranath Chakraborty stated. “Two of the victims were grassroots political workers.”
A senior police officer, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to brief reporters, confirmed that four people had died in the clashes. The officer also said a policeman had been shot in the leg during the unrest.
Police in Kolkata said disturbances broke out in parts of the Topsia and Tiljala neighborhoods, where groups of “miscreants” allegedly vandalized public property during the violence. The TMC additionally accused BJP supporters of attacking and damaging party offices in different districts.
Banerjee Challenges Result
The political crisis deepened after Banerjee refused to resign as chief minister despite the election outcome. Calling the BJP’s victory “an immoral victory,” she alleged that more than 100 seats had been “looted” by the BJP, though the Election Commission of India has denied accusations of misconduct.
Under the Indian constitution, the governor of West Bengal has the authority to ask Banerjee to resign or wait until the expiry of her current term before beginning the process of government formation. Her term is scheduled to end on Thursday, after which newly elected lawmakers would be sworn in and the process of establishing a new administration would begin.
The Election Commission of India directed senior state officials and security agencies to adopt what it described as a “zero tolerance” approach toward post election violence.
According to public broadcaster All India Radio, the commission instructed authorities to take all necessary steps to prevent intimidation, reprisals and further clashes linked to the election outcome.
A Landmark Win for Modi’s Party
Political analysts say the BJP’s victory in West Bengal is among the party’s most important electoral successes since Modi first became prime minister in 2014. The state has historically been resistant to the BJP’s expansion, with regional identity and Bengali language politics playing a central role in local elections.
The win is likely to strengthen Modi’s political standing nationally while further extending the BJP’s influence beyond its traditional strongholds in northern and central India. Observers also say the result reflects the party’s growing organizational strength and ability to challenge long entrenched regional leaders.
At the same time, the violence following the election has renewed concerns over political tensions and partisan clashes in West Bengal, a state that has frequently witnessed unrest during and after elections.
Authorities remain on high alert as security forces continue patrols in sensitive areas in an effort to prevent further violence.
