New Delhi, May 6 (V7N) — U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sweeping victory in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, marking a historic political shift in the state.

According to data from the Election Commission of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 206 out of 294 seats, comfortably surpassing the effective majority threshold of 147 seats. The vote in one constituency was postponed, but the result still gives the party a decisive mandate to form its first government in West Bengal.

The ruling All India Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was reduced to 80 seats in a major setback. Other parties, including the Indian National Congress and smaller regional groups, secured only a handful of seats.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai said on Tuesday that President Trump praised Modi for what he described as a “historic and decisive electoral victory.”

Political analysts attribute the BJP’s success to a combination of strategic campaigning and growing public dissatisfaction with the incumbent state government. The party effectively countered the “outsider” narrative and capitalized on issues such as illegal immigration, while emphasizing locally resonant slogans and strengthening grassroots organization.

The results, announced on May 4, hold symbolic significance as West Bengal is the birthplace of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the ideological predecessor of the BJP. In a speech at the party’s headquarters in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi highlighted this historical connection.

Despite the defeat, Mamata Banerjee has rejected calls to resign, describing the outcome as a “conspiracy.” However, under constitutional provisions, a chief minister must retain the confidence of the legislative assembly, raising questions about the sustainability of her position after losing the majority.

Meanwhile, the BJP has begun internal discussions on selecting a new chief minister. Suvendu Adhikari, the current Leader of the Opposition who defeated Banerjee in her stronghold, is considered a leading contender. Other names under consideration include state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and vice-president Agnimitra Paul.

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