Modis Victory in Indian State Elections Raises Concerns About Democracy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the state of West Bengal for the first time, marking a significant victory in its 46-year history. The legislative assembly elections were held on multiple dates in April across several Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

The BJP retained control in Assam for a third consecutive term, while the coalition it is part of also secured power in Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, actor Joseph Vijay’s fledgling political outfit broke the stranglehold of two dominant state parties, and he is poised to become the next chief minister.

In neighboring Kerala, a communist government lost to an Indian National Congress-led alliance, marking the first time in 50 years that the left was not in control of any Indian state. The West Bengal outcome represents the most notable takeaway from Monday’s verdict.

Historically, West Bengal played a pivotal role in India’s colonial past, with the British East India Company defeating the Nawab of Bengal in the mid-18th century. This event marked the beginning of Indian colonialism and had a lasting impact on the region. The partition of Bengal in 1905 further divided the state along religious lines, establishing a template for future territorial divisions based on identity.

The BJP’s victory has been linked to its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, founded by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. Mukherjee advocated for a culturally united India and opposed special status for Kashmir after India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947. Modi fulfilled Mukherjee’s dream by scrapping Kashmir’s partial autonomy weeks after coming into power.

Despite its complex post-independence trajectory, West Bengal has historically displayed relative peace during tumultuous periods in modern India. The state remained peaceful during anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and the nationwide bloodbath that followed the demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh in 1992.

Source: Al Jazeera