Indias ruling party expected to perform well in state elections

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is expected to win two out of four crucial state elections, expanding its influence and weakening its key rival halfway through his third term in office.

According to the Election Commission website, the BJP is leading in 176 out of 294 seats in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party trailing behind. The BJP has campaigned extensively in West Bengal, focusing on issues such as “illegal immigration” from Bangladesh and the local economy.

In Assam, the BJP is expected to return to power for the third straight term. In Tamil Nadu, movie star Joseph Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is looking set to oust the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

The BJP has been seeking to make inroads into opposition-held states, which would bolster Modi’s ability to tackle economic and foreign policy challenges. The party has never governed West Bengal, but its lead in the state is expected to be a significant upset for Banerjee.

Trends released by the Election Commission of India show the BJP leading in several other states, including Kerala, where an alliance led by the Indian National Congress party is looking set to defeat the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). The outcome of these elections will have implications for Modi’s government and its ability to address pressing issues such as unemployment and trade deals.

Source: Al Jazeera