The results of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry were announced on Monday, with significant political shifts across several states. For the first time in West Bengal’s history, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the government, while in Assam it has secured a third consecutive term in power.
The most striking outcome came in Tamil Nadu, where actor Vijay’s two-year-old party, TVK, emerged as the largest single party but fell short of an outright majority. The NDA is also set to retain power in Puducherry.
Security was stepped up outside the TVK headquarters in Chennai amid heightened political activity. In a closely contested result, TVK candidate K. Srinivas Sethupathi defeated DMK candidate Periyakaruppan in Thirupathur by a single vote, securing 83,365 votes.
Meanwhile, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to hold a press conference at 4 p.m. today. She has alleged electoral malpractice, claiming that the Election Commission and the BJP were involved in rigging, with over 100 seats “stolen”. She also alleged that her polling agents were barred from entering booths and that she was prevented from campaigning freely.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari won the Bhawanipur seat in West Bengal, defeating Mamata Banerjee.
In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay won both seats. His party, TVK, won 107 seats.
BJP is forming a government in Assam for the third time. Following the election victory, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posed for a photo with BJP leaders and workers, flashing the victory sign.
BJP+ now rules 78% of country’s population and 72% of land
The election results in five states, from Gangasagar to Kanyakumari, have dealt a significant blow to the major power centers of anti-BJP politics. Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin were the main faces challenging the BJP.
Bengal (42) and Tamil Nadu (39) constitute 81 Lok Sabha seats. Their collapse left the All India Alliance lagging behind. While the Congress’s victory in Kerala offers some solace, this gain will trigger new infighting within the opposition.
Now the opposition’s fight is not for power but to save its relevance.
3 seats for one family in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
Lottery King Martin’s wife, son, son-in-law win from three parties
Three members of the family of ‘lottery king’ Santiago Martin, who shot to fame across the country by becoming the biggest buyer of electoral bonds, have won three seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Martin’s wife, Lima Rose, won the Lalgudi seat in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli district on an AIADMK ticket by 2,739 votes. Lima was the state’s richest candidate in the election (with assets worth ₹1,050 crore).
Adhav Arjun, husband of Martin’s daughter Daisy and secretary of the TVK’s election wing, won from Villivakkam in Tamil Nadu. He could become a minister due to his seniority.
Martin’s son Jose Charles won from Kamaraj Nagar in Puducherry. He had launched his own party, the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi, and had allied with the NDA.
The lottery king had given ₹540 crore to Trinamool Congress, ₹500 crore to DMK and ₹100 crore to BJP.
