Mr. Modi has campaigned extensively in West Bengal for weeks, focusing on illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who he calls his allies.
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MUMBAI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is on track to win two of four key state elections on Monday, expanding its influence and weakening its main rival midway through his third term in office.
Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to return to power in the eastern state of Assam for a third consecutive term, and is dominating West Bengal, data on the Election Commission’s website showed. Both states share a border with Bangladesh, and infiltration into India was a key issue in the polls.
The BJP has never ruled West Bengal, which had only three local councilors until 2021.
Prime Minister Modi, his closest aide, Home Minister Amit Shah, and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have waged a wide-ranging campaign in West Bengal for weeks, focusing on what they call illegal immigration from Bangladesh and the local economy, which has faltered under incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee is a fierce critic of Modi and a key member of the Indian opposition alliance. She has held state power since 2011.
Bond traders said 10-year bond yields fell 2 basis points to 6.9954%, as positive developments in the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal also boosted market sentiment.
deal a blow to the opposition coalition
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a major electronics and automobile hub, Joseph Vijay, a popular film star who first entered politics by starting a party just two years ago, appeared to be on track to oust the ruling DMK party.
The actor, who goes by the single name Vijay, has a devoted following in the state, which has a history of electing movie stars to top government jobs.
In the other southern state of Kerala, the Congress-led alliance was expected to defeat the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The DMK is also a vocal rival of Mr. Modi, and the DMK and Banerjee’s ruling TMC party were the mainstays of the Congress-led opposition Alliance of India. The alliance jointly contested the 2024 general election and deprived Mr. Modi of a majority, forcing him to rely on support from regional parties to form a coalition government.
Their defeat is expected to significantly weaken opposition to Mr. Modi in 2029, when he will seek a record fourth term in power.
The final results are expected to be known by Monday night, but the results are not expected to have an immediate impact on federal politics or policy.
