Significant Setback for Established Dominant Regional Parties

The results of the 2026 assembly elections held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry have introduced a new chapter in national politics. The collective outcome of these five states demonstrates an unprecedented rise in the political strength of the BJP. This has raised serious questions about the future of some established regional parties. Most notably, the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has come to an end, with the BJP assuming power for the first time with a two-thirds majority—a major political upset in this election.

There has also been a significant shift in South Indian politics this time. In Tamil Nadu, the longstanding Dravidian political legacy has taken a major hit with the emergence of new forces. In Kerala, the leftist front (LDF), which had been in power for the past 10 years, was defeated, leading to the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). In the Northeast, the BJP has further consolidated its hold in Assam, achieving a historic ‘hat-trick’ of victories, setting a new benchmark.

In Puducherry, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the NR Congress, has retained power, reaffirming its political continuity. The BJP’s historic breakthrough in West Bengal stands out as the most surprising political transformation. In the 2021 elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had secured 213 seats with 47.9% of the vote share, dominating the political landscape; however, this election proved to be highly unfavorable for the party.

There were notable variations in vote percentages among parties; the BJP led with 45.56% of the vote, while the TMC’s share dropped to 40.94%. The BJP improved its vote share by 6.78%, whereas the TMC declined by 6.51%. This election was also memorable due to its high voter turnout. Voter participation rose from 81.8% in 2021 to an exceptional 92.47% this year, marking one of the highest turnout rates since independence.