Electoral systems

India State Elections Kick Off Across Five Regions

Is the BJP an unstoppable national force or a regional party that has yet to prove its southern and eastern reach?

Published 2 hours ago

India State Elections Kick Off Across Five Regions

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Above: Women voters wait to cast their votes during the Kerala state assembly election in Kochi, India, on April 9, 2026. Image credit: Sivaram Venkitasubramanian/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

The 2026 state elections are shaping up to be a referendum on whether the BJP can break through in southern and eastern India, and the odds aren't great. Brand Modi has real limits — it couldn't swing Delhi in 2015 or 2020, and Bihar's NDA win was about local dynamics, not Modi's coattails. The Left's collapse across India and Congress's struggles show the political landscape is shifting, but the BJP still hasn't proven it's more than a North Indian party.

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Right narrative

Modi's India is on an undeniable winning streak — Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar and Delhi all fell into the BJP column, and West Bengal is next. Under Modi's leadership, India climbed from the 11th to the 4th largest economy, shedding the "Fragile Five" label for good. Corrupt political dynasties are getting wiped out one by one, and the best days of reform, security and economic growth are still ahead.

BJP on X

Flt Lt Anoop Verma (Retd.) on X