May 18, 2026
. Thiruvananthapuram: BJP made a historic stride by winning three seats and the party was quick to say it was symbolic as it had won the same number of seats in West Bengal in 2016. The victory could be seen as a stamp of approval to state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s strategy to focus more on development and less on politics.When the former Union minister took over the reins of the party in Kerala, Chandrasekhar was clear that he would stay away from saffron politics that wins BJP votes elsewhere in the country. It seems to have paid off, as it helped the party increase its connect with urban voters in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam that were grossly neglected by successive govts.Chandrasekhar won the Nemom seat by defeating incumbent V Sivankuttywho had wrested the seat from BJP in the 2021 election.All the three constituencies — Nemom and Kazhakuttom in Thiruvananthapuram district and Chathannur in Kollam — are urban constituencies.The victory in the three constituencies where BJP had finished second in several previous elections proved that groundwork, not rabble-rousing campaigns can win them seats. If the election campaign of several BJP candidates were replete with saffron colour and Sangh Parivar symbols in the 2021 polls, they hardly resorted to such shows and it was almost absent in Nemom, Kazhakuttom and Chathannur.This poll also brightened the hopes of BJP in Kozhikode north and south seats, where the party candidates scored close to 40,000 votes for the first time. BJP had won 13 seats in Kozhikode corporation for the first time.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123Photostories5 Met Gala food rules you probably did not knowMetrics used in India to measure homes and how to convert them easilyStruggling in a 400 sq ft home? These design tricks can make it feel twice as big8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every day123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

. Thiruvananthapuram: BJP made a historic stride by winning three seats and the party was quick to say it was symbolic as it had won the same number of seats in West Bengal in 2016. The victory could be seen as a stamp of approval to state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s strategy to focus more on development and less on politics.When the former Union minister took over the reins of the party in Kerala, Chandrasekhar was clear that he would stay away from saffron politics that wins BJP votes elsewhere in the country. It seems to have paid off, as it helped the party increase its connect with urban voters in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam that were grossly neglected by successive govts.Chandrasekhar won the Nemom seat by defeating incumbent V Sivankuttywho had wrested the seat from BJP in the 2021 election.All the three constituencies — Nemom and Kazhakuttom in Thiruvananthapuram district and Chathannur in Kollam — are urban constituencies.The victory in the three constituencies where BJP had finished second in several previous elections proved that groundwork, not rabble-rousing campaigns can win them seats. If the election campaign of several BJP candidates were replete with saffron colour and Sangh Parivar symbols in the 2021 polls, they hardly resorted to such shows and it was almost absent in Nemom, Kazhakuttom and Chathannur.This poll also brightened the hopes of BJP in Kozhikode north and south seats, where the party candidates scored close to 40,000 votes for the first time. BJP had won 13 seats in Kozhikode corporation for the first time.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123Photostories5 Met Gala food rules you probably did not knowMetrics used in India to measure homes and how to convert them easilyStruggling in a 400 sq ft home? These design tricks can make it feel twice as big8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every day123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP made a historic stride by winning three seats and the party was quick to say it was symbolic as it had won the same number of seats in West Bengal in 2016. The victory could be seen as a stamp of approval to state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s strategy to focus more on development…

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LSG IPL 2026 playoff qualification scenarios: Lucknow Super Giants hopes all but gone after six straight losses

LSG IPL 2026 playoff qualification scenarios: Lucknow Super Giants hopes all but gone after six straight losses

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Despite a blistering 63 off 21 balls from Nicholas Pooran and a strong partnership, Lucknow Super Giants suffered their sixth consecutive defeat. Their inability to close out games, even after posting a massive 228, has left them virtually out of the IPL 2026 playoff race. With five must-win games remaining, a miraculous recovery is needed….

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Spain’s hidden water treasure found: Massive underground reserve discovered beneath farmland

Spain’s hidden water treasure found: Massive underground reserve discovered beneath farmland

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Researchers have used cutting-edge satellite technology to find a large underground aquifer beneath Spain’s main agricultural area. This discovery arrives at a crucial time, as water scarcity and long droughts become more common in the Mediterranean region. Scientists employed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) along with gravity-mapping data, allowing them to see through the ground and…

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‘Unacceptable’: MEA condemns attack on UAE’s Fujairah that injured three Indians

‘Unacceptable’: MEA condemns attack on UAE’s Fujairah that injured three Indians

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday condemned the strike in the United Arab Emirates that left three Indian nationals injured, calling for an immediate halt to escalating hostilities in the region.Responding to the attack in Fujairah, the ministry of external affairs said, “The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable….

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NEW DELHI: As the results of the 2026 assembly elections began to emerge, a familiar tune returned to Indian politics. Not loud or unexpected, but recognisable. Something that has been building since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. Each election has followed a similar rhythm. The BJP has consistently (from Harayana to Maharashtra and now, Assam) managed to shake off the anti-incumbency, not only defending its government but also winning a greater mandate.What once appeared to be a temporary recovery now carries the shape of something more deliberate.Across multiple states, the party has defended its ground while pushing into new territory, repeating a pattern with striking consistency. There is a rhythm to it now, almost like the same tune playing again and again, each election result sounds familiar.In Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, there is a line: “Algebra (in this case read: Politics) is like sheet music. It’s not important if you can read the music, it’s can you hear it.”And seemingly, the BJP has.Here’s how the saffron party has cracked the code to fighting anti-incumbency:The setbackThe BJP’s post-2024 trajectory is striking for its method. In June 2024, the party fell to 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, losing its outright majority and becoming dependent on coalition partners. The opposition INDIA bloc interpreted that result as a turning point. It entered subsequent state elections with confidence, often as the perceived frontrunner.Yet that momentum did not translate into votes. In state after state, the opposition struggled to convert narrative advantage into electoral success. The BJP, meanwhile, recalibrated quickly. It refined its messaging, tightened its candidate selection, and leaned heavily on targeted welfare schemes that addressed specific voter segments.Equally important was the party’s ability to maintain coherence across levels of leadership. The central leadership, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continued to function as a unifying force, while state units adapted to local dynamics. This balance between central projection and local adjustment became a recurring feature of BJP campaigns.Haryana polls – Proving exit polls wrongThe first indication that the Lok Sabha verdict would not define the BJP’s trajectory came in Haryana. After a decade in power, the state government faced clear signs of fatigue. Exit polls leaned towards the Congress, and the opposition’s campaign had built a sustained narrative around accountability.The BJP’s response was pragmatic rather than defensive. It replaced a significant portion of its sitting legislators and shifted the leadership from Manohar Lal Khattar to Nayab Singh Saini, in a strategic move to circumvent anti-incumbency.The result was a third consecutive term, with 48 seats in a 90-member assembly. The victory was not overwhelming, but it was significant. It demonstrated that anti-incumbency could be mitigated through timely intervention and organisational discipline.Maharashtra 2024Maharashtra was an even bigger win for the BJP. The Mahayuti alliance secured a commanding victory, winning 235 of 288 seats. The turnaround from the Lok Sabha elections just months earlier was dramatic.This outcome, however, was not driven by a single factor. Welfare schemes such as Ladki Bahin played a role in consolidating sections of the electorate. At the same time, alliance management proved decisive.The BJP’s campaign combined welfare messaging boosted significantly by PM Modi’s presence. The opposition, despite its earlier parliamentary success, struggled to present a cohesive counter-narrative and suffered from disjointed alliance strategy.Delhi 2025: Return to the CapitalThe Delhi election marked a different kind of shift. The Aam Aadmi Party had built a strong governance narrative over a decade, centred on public services and welfare delivery. However, by 2025, that model showed signs of strain.Controversies, including the liquor policy case involving Arvind Kejriwal, eroded the party’s image of clean governance. Public dissatisfaction, particularly around infrastructure and environmental issues, created openings for the BJP.The BJP’s campaign focused on these vulnerabilities while offering its own welfare commitments. The argument for administrative alignment between the Centre and the state also resonated in a city with a unique constitutional structure.Winning 48 of 70 seats, the BJP returned to power in Delhi after 27 years. The result highlighted a key lesson: even the most entrenched regional players who have built a strong cadre can be toppled.Bihar 2025: Flexing alliance strengthBihar’s result reinforced the importance of alliances but also highlighted a shift within them. The NDA secured a decisive victory, with over 200 seats in a 243-member assembly. While Nitish Kumar remained a central figure, the BJP emerged as the single largest party.Then came the transition: BJP’s Samrat Choudhary assumed the chief ministerial post, while Nitish Kumar who had held the top state post for two decades, moved to the Rajya Sabha. This marked a major moment for BJP: the party moved from a supporting role to the centre of power.The campaign itself combined caste recalibration with welfare outreach. The opposition, led by Tejashwi Yadav, ran an energetic campaign but struggled to match the NDA’s organisational reach and coalition stability. It also struggled to form a cohesive alliance strategy with the Congress, with the INDIA bloc allies struggling to formulate a seat-sharing deal till much later in the election season.Assam 2026: Fighting anti-incumbencyAmong the states contested in 2026, Assam was the most straightforward for the BJP. Under Himanta Biswa Sarma, the government entered the election with a relatively strong position.Welfare delivery, particularly targeted at tea garden workers and low-income groups, formed a central pillar of the campaign. This was complemented by a clear ideological positioning that consolidated the party’s support base.The NDA’s comfortable victory, crossing the majority mark with ease, reaffirmed the BJP’s dominance in the state. Assam became the “stick” in the broader pattern, the government that resisted anti-incumbency without significant disruption.West Bengal 2026: A breakthroughThe most interesting result of this assembly election cycle came in West Bengal. For over a decade, Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress had held firm against the BJP’s advances. The 2021 election had brought the BJP close but not close enough.The years that followed saw a steady expansion of the BJP’s organisational network across the state. At the same time, the TMC faced growing challenges, including localised anti-incumbency, allegations of corruption, and internal strains.The 2026 election reflected these shifts. A high voter turnout signalled a desire for change. The BJP’s campaign combined welfare promises with a strong ideological pitch, while also capitalising on dissatisfaction at the constituency level, flagging issues of anti-incumbency, corruption and law and order degradation.As of time of publishing, the BJP has established a decisive lead, crossing well beyond the majority mark. The result was not just a victory but a breakthrough in a state that had long resisted it.Getting right what the opposition couldn’tWhile the BJP managed anti-incumbency with increasing sophistication, its rivals struggled to do the same. In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front lost power after its rare consecutive term, as voters reverted to the state’s pattern of alternation. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK faced a significant setback as the Vijay-led TVK neared an emphatic mandate.These outcomes highlight a broader issue within the opposition. The INDIA bloc’s success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections created expectations that were not matched by organisational coherence in state contests. Leadership remained fragmented, and strategies often relied heavily on national narratives that did not translate effectively at the state level.Anti-incumbency, which had been a powerful tool against the BJP in 2024, turned against these governments. Unlike the BJP, they lacked a consistent framework to manage that pressure.The emerging playbookPolitics is not a one-off game. It is unrelenting, chaotic, and deliberate. A big win or loss may shift the mood of party workers, but as Shah Rukh Khan would say, “picture abhi baaki hai.” If the state assembly results since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections show anything, it is this: no party is too big to need recalibration, and when it is done right, no setback is too big to recover from.The INDIA bloc walked out of the 2024 Lok Sabha election believing it had found the winning note. It read the result as a shift in mood, a sign that the BJP’s dominance had peaked. But state elections have a way of testing assumptions. One by one, those assumptions have come undone.In Maharashtra, in Delhi, in Bihar, and now most dramatically in West Bengal, the story has repeated with small variations but the same ending.But familiar enough to raise a harder question for the opposition: not how to win one election, but how to stop losing the next one.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123PhotostoriesMetrics used in India to measure homes and how to convert them easilyStruggling in a 400 sq ft home? These design tricks can make it feel twice as big8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every dayKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 confirmed contestants list: Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Orry join Rohit Shetty show123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

NEW DELHI: As the results of the 2026 assembly elections began to emerge, a familiar tune returned to Indian politics. Not loud or unexpected, but recognisable. Something that has been building since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. Each election has followed a similar rhythm. The BJP has consistently (from Harayana to Maharashtra and now, Assam) managed to shake off the anti-incumbency, not only defending its government but also winning a greater mandate.What once appeared to be a temporary recovery now carries the shape of something more deliberate.Across multiple states, the party has defended its ground while pushing into new territory, repeating a pattern with striking consistency. There is a rhythm to it now, almost like the same tune playing again and again, each election result sounds familiar.In Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, there is a line: “Algebra (in this case read: Politics) is like sheet music. It’s not important if you can read the music, it’s can you hear it.”And seemingly, the BJP has.Here’s how the saffron party has cracked the code to fighting anti-incumbency:The setbackThe BJP’s post-2024 trajectory is striking for its method. In June 2024, the party fell to 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, losing its outright majority and becoming dependent on coalition partners. The opposition INDIA bloc interpreted that result as a turning point. It entered subsequent state elections with confidence, often as the perceived frontrunner.Yet that momentum did not translate into votes. In state after state, the opposition struggled to convert narrative advantage into electoral success. The BJP, meanwhile, recalibrated quickly. It refined its messaging, tightened its candidate selection, and leaned heavily on targeted welfare schemes that addressed specific voter segments.Equally important was the party’s ability to maintain coherence across levels of leadership. The central leadership, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continued to function as a unifying force, while state units adapted to local dynamics. This balance between central projection and local adjustment became a recurring feature of BJP campaigns.Haryana polls – Proving exit polls wrongThe first indication that the Lok Sabha verdict would not define the BJP’s trajectory came in Haryana. After a decade in power, the state government faced clear signs of fatigue. Exit polls leaned towards the Congress, and the opposition’s campaign had built a sustained narrative around accountability.The BJP’s response was pragmatic rather than defensive. It replaced a significant portion of its sitting legislators and shifted the leadership from Manohar Lal Khattar to Nayab Singh Saini, in a strategic move to circumvent anti-incumbency.The result was a third consecutive term, with 48 seats in a 90-member assembly. The victory was not overwhelming, but it was significant. It demonstrated that anti-incumbency could be mitigated through timely intervention and organisational discipline.Maharashtra 2024Maharashtra was an even bigger win for the BJP. The Mahayuti alliance secured a commanding victory, winning 235 of 288 seats. The turnaround from the Lok Sabha elections just months earlier was dramatic.This outcome, however, was not driven by a single factor. Welfare schemes such as Ladki Bahin played a role in consolidating sections of the electorate. At the same time, alliance management proved decisive.The BJP’s campaign combined welfare messaging boosted significantly by PM Modi’s presence. The opposition, despite its earlier parliamentary success, struggled to present a cohesive counter-narrative and suffered from disjointed alliance strategy.Delhi 2025: Return to the CapitalThe Delhi election marked a different kind of shift. The Aam Aadmi Party had built a strong governance narrative over a decade, centred on public services and welfare delivery. However, by 2025, that model showed signs of strain.Controversies, including the liquor policy case involving Arvind Kejriwal, eroded the party’s image of clean governance. Public dissatisfaction, particularly around infrastructure and environmental issues, created openings for the BJP.The BJP’s campaign focused on these vulnerabilities while offering its own welfare commitments. The argument for administrative alignment between the Centre and the state also resonated in a city with a unique constitutional structure.Winning 48 of 70 seats, the BJP returned to power in Delhi after 27 years. The result highlighted a key lesson: even the most entrenched regional players who have built a strong cadre can be toppled.Bihar 2025: Flexing alliance strengthBihar’s result reinforced the importance of alliances but also highlighted a shift within them. The NDA secured a decisive victory, with over 200 seats in a 243-member assembly. While Nitish Kumar remained a central figure, the BJP emerged as the single largest party.Then came the transition: BJP’s Samrat Choudhary assumed the chief ministerial post, while Nitish Kumar who had held the top state post for two decades, moved to the Rajya Sabha. This marked a major moment for BJP: the party moved from a supporting role to the centre of power.The campaign itself combined caste recalibration with welfare outreach. The opposition, led by Tejashwi Yadav, ran an energetic campaign but struggled to match the NDA’s organisational reach and coalition stability. It also struggled to form a cohesive alliance strategy with the Congress, with the INDIA bloc allies struggling to formulate a seat-sharing deal till much later in the election season.Assam 2026: Fighting anti-incumbencyAmong the states contested in 2026, Assam was the most straightforward for the BJP. Under Himanta Biswa Sarma, the government entered the election with a relatively strong position.Welfare delivery, particularly targeted at tea garden workers and low-income groups, formed a central pillar of the campaign. This was complemented by a clear ideological positioning that consolidated the party’s support base.The NDA’s comfortable victory, crossing the majority mark with ease, reaffirmed the BJP’s dominance in the state. Assam became the “stick” in the broader pattern, the government that resisted anti-incumbency without significant disruption.West Bengal 2026: A breakthroughThe most interesting result of this assembly election cycle came in West Bengal. For over a decade, Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress had held firm against the BJP’s advances. The 2021 election had brought the BJP close but not close enough.The years that followed saw a steady expansion of the BJP’s organisational network across the state. At the same time, the TMC faced growing challenges, including localised anti-incumbency, allegations of corruption, and internal strains.The 2026 election reflected these shifts. A high voter turnout signalled a desire for change. The BJP’s campaign combined welfare promises with a strong ideological pitch, while also capitalising on dissatisfaction at the constituency level, flagging issues of anti-incumbency, corruption and law and order degradation.As of time of publishing, the BJP has established a decisive lead, crossing well beyond the majority mark. The result was not just a victory but a breakthrough in a state that had long resisted it.Getting right what the opposition couldn’tWhile the BJP managed anti-incumbency with increasing sophistication, its rivals struggled to do the same. In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front lost power after its rare consecutive term, as voters reverted to the state’s pattern of alternation. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK faced a significant setback as the Vijay-led TVK neared an emphatic mandate.These outcomes highlight a broader issue within the opposition. The INDIA bloc’s success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections created expectations that were not matched by organisational coherence in state contests. Leadership remained fragmented, and strategies often relied heavily on national narratives that did not translate effectively at the state level.Anti-incumbency, which had been a powerful tool against the BJP in 2024, turned against these governments. Unlike the BJP, they lacked a consistent framework to manage that pressure.The emerging playbookPolitics is not a one-off game. It is unrelenting, chaotic, and deliberate. A big win or loss may shift the mood of party workers, but as Shah Rukh Khan would say, “picture abhi baaki hai.” If the state assembly results since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections show anything, it is this: no party is too big to need recalibration, and when it is done right, no setback is too big to recover from.The INDIA bloc walked out of the 2024 Lok Sabha election believing it had found the winning note. It read the result as a shift in mood, a sign that the BJP’s dominance had peaked. But state elections have a way of testing assumptions. One by one, those assumptions have come undone.In Maharashtra, in Delhi, in Bihar, and now most dramatically in West Bengal, the story has repeated with small variations but the same ending.But familiar enough to raise a harder question for the opposition: not how to win one election, but how to stop losing the next one.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123PhotostoriesMetrics used in India to measure homes and how to convert them easilyStruggling in a 400 sq ft home? These design tricks can make it feel twice as big8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every dayKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 confirmed contestants list: Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Orry join Rohit Shetty show123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

Vamsikrishna08 mins mins

NEW DELHI: As the results of the 2026 assembly elections began to emerge, a familiar tune returned to Indian politics. Not loud or unexpected, but recognisable. Something that has been building since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. Each election has followed a similar rhythm. The BJP has consistently (from Harayana to Maharashtra and now, Assam)…

Read More
‘India is a global powerhouse of talent’: Canada’s Cape Breton University signs MoUs

‘India is a global powerhouse of talent’: Canada’s Cape Breton University signs MoUs

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

A delegation from Cape Breton University has signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Indian academic institutions as part of a multi-city outreach to strengthen higher education partnerships. The visit, led by president and vice-chancellor David C Dingwall, took place between April 27 and May 2 across New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.In an…

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Dolly Parton cancels Las Vegas residency over health issues: ‘Some of the meds make me a little bit swimmy-headed’

Dolly Parton cancels Las Vegas residency over health issues: ‘Some of the meds make me a little bit swimmy-headed’

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Dolly Parton’s fans were looking forward to her forthcoming Las Vegas residency. However, they will have to wait a tad longer; Dolly Parton has cancelled her Las Vegas residency owing to her longtime health struggles. The ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer mentioned that, though she is on the road to recovery, her longtime struggle…

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File photo NEW DELHI: As it has become an annual affair for court to get flooded with petitions for admission to medical colleges after declaration of NEET results, Supreme Court Monday asked National Medical Commission and Centre to frame tamper-free rules to prevent unnecessary litigation, which create uncertainty for candidates.A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe proposed that a mechanism be put in place to review the rules every year to improve upon them. Emphasising that the country is mature enough to build sound institutions, the court said that more rigour needs to be infused into the selection process.The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging reduction in cut-off marks for PG admissions.It had earlier issued notices to Centre and NMC in this connection.Election Results 2026Vijay’s TVK party emerges as formidable force in Tamil Nadu; all you need to know about its journeyWest Bengal election results: Mamata lags behind Suvendu Adhikari after 2nd round in BhabanipurTVK pushes DMK, AIADMK to margins; BJP may oust Mamata in Bengal, retain AssamWith over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats across the country remaining vacant, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) had revised the qualifying percentiles for NEET-PG 2025 admissions, reducing it to zero from 40 percentile for reserved categories – which will allow even those scoring as low as minus 40 out of 800 to take part in third round of counselling for PG medical seats.According to the notice published by NBEMS, the NEET PG cutoff for general category has been reduced to seven percentile from 50.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123Photostories8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every dayKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 confirmed contestants list: Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Orry join Rohit Shetty showApple vs. Banana: Which has more nutrition and should be consumed daily and whySleeping late vs waking early: What your body prefers, the answer might surprise you123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

File photo NEW DELHI: As it has become an annual affair for court to get flooded with petitions for admission to medical colleges after declaration of NEET results, Supreme Court Monday asked National Medical Commission and Centre to frame tamper-free rules to prevent unnecessary litigation, which create uncertainty for candidates.A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe proposed that a mechanism be put in place to review the rules every year to improve upon them. Emphasising that the country is mature enough to build sound institutions, the court said that more rigour needs to be infused into the selection process.The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging reduction in cut-off marks for PG admissions.It had earlier issued notices to Centre and NMC in this connection.Election Results 2026Vijay’s TVK party emerges as formidable force in Tamil Nadu; all you need to know about its journeyWest Bengal election results: Mamata lags behind Suvendu Adhikari after 2nd round in BhabanipurTVK pushes DMK, AIADMK to margins; BJP may oust Mamata in Bengal, retain AssamWith over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats across the country remaining vacant, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) had revised the qualifying percentiles for NEET-PG 2025 admissions, reducing it to zero from 40 percentile for reserved categories – which will allow even those scoring as low as minus 40 out of 800 to take part in third round of counselling for PG medical seats.According to the notice published by NBEMS, the NEET PG cutoff for general category has been reduced to seven percentile from 50.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC Appearance123Photostories8 Delhi street food spots you must visit at least once in your lifeBad Bunny to Colman Domingo: Met Gala 2026 best-dressed menBeautiful plants you can grow without soil10 popular and unique baby boy names with letter JKaran Johar’s Met Gala debut is pure drama and deeply rooted in Indian artMorning affirmation at 5 am: This is what your mind needs to hearFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every dayKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 confirmed contestants list: Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Orry join Rohit Shetty showApple vs. Banana: Which has more nutrition and should be consumed daily and whySleeping late vs waking early: What your body prefers, the answer might surprise you123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsBhabanipur election results 2026West Bengal Election Results 2026NEET 2026: Exam-day guideHPBose 12th ResultTVK Chief Vijay

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: As it has become an annual affair for court to get flooded with petitions for admission to medical colleges after declaration of NEET results, Supreme Court Monday asked National Medical Commission and Centre to frame tamper-free rules to prevent unnecessary litigation, which create uncertainty for candidates.A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and…

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‘Will poison your rice if you don’t vote for Vijay’: How TVK reeled in a tsunami of votes in Tamil Nadu

‘Will poison your rice if you don’t vote for Vijay’: How TVK reeled in a tsunami of votes in Tamil Nadu

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

While other politicians were busy building a vote bank, Vijay ran his campaign almost like a film release, with trailers, guest appearances and marketing gimmicks, an approach digital marketing strategists say helped him win. CHENNAI: While other politicians were busy building a vote bank, Vijay ran his campaign almost like a film release, with trailers,…

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