BJP's Historic Victory in West Bengal Marks End of TMC's 15-Year Rule

The BJP's recent triumph in West Bengal has concluded the TMC's 15-year governance, marking a pivotal moment in Indian politics. Under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP has now formed a government in a state previously deemed politically challenging. This victory is part of a broader trend of the BJP's expansion across India since 2014, with significant wins in various states. The article explores the implications of this victory, the journey of the BJP in different regions, and the changing political landscape in India, highlighting the party's growing influence under Prime Minister Modi.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 9, 2026, 20:15 IST

BJP Takes Charge in West Bengal

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a significant victory in West Bengal, bringing an end to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's 15-year reign under Mamata Banerjee. On May 9, the BJP, led by Suvendu Adhikari, formed a new government in the state. This victory makes West Bengal the ninth state where the BJP has secured the chief minister's position since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014.

A Journey of Political Expansion

The BJP's journey began in 2014 with victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, followed by wins in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Odisha, Bihar, and now West Bengal. In Haryana, the BJP formed its first government independently, appointing Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister. In Maharashtra, the party emerged as the largest in the 2014 assembly elections and formed a government in alliance with Shiv Sena, with Devendra Fadnavis becoming the first BJP Chief Minister of the state.

Strengthening Presence in the Northeast

In 2016, the BJP solidified its presence in the Northeast by winning in Assam, where Sarbananda Sonowal became the first BJP Chief Minister. The party has maintained power in Assam since then, achieving another significant victory in the recent elections held in April.

The BJP also formed its first government in Arunachal Pradesh in 2016. After a prolonged political crisis, Congress leader Pema Khandu took office as Chief Minister in July 2016. However, he and most Congress legislators joined the BJP-aligned People's Party of Arunachal, leading to a stable government for the BJP.

Defeating Long-Standing Rivals

The BJP briefly led the government in Arunachal Pradesh in 2003 under former Chief Minister Gegong Apang, who returned to Congress after just 44 days. In 2017, the BJP formed its first government in Manipur by allying with the National People's Party, Naga People's Front, and other regional parties, appointing N. Biren Singh as Chief Minister.

In 2018, the BJP ended the Left Front's decades-long rule in Tripura, establishing its first government under Biplab Kumar Deb. The party achieved another major success in Eastern India in 2024 by defeating the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, with Mohan Charan Majhi taking office as the first BJP Chief Minister in the state, marking the end of Naveen Patnaik's 24-year rule.

Political Landscape in Bihar

In Bihar, the BJP has been part of coalition governments led by Nitish Kumar for a long time but had not appointed a Chief Minister until recently. Following Kumar's resignation to join the Rajya Sabha, the BJP appointed Samrat Chaudhary as the state's first Chief Minister. With the recent victory in West Bengal, the BJP has established a government in a state previously considered politically challenging for the party, winning 207 out of 294 assembly seats.

BJP's Growing Influence

BJP national spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala stated that the party's political expansion under Prime Minister Modi reflects its governance model and increasing acceptance across the country. He emphasized that under Modi's leadership, the BJP and NDA have consistently strengthened their political foothold throughout India, winning in states where the BJP had never previously held power or had a BJP Chief Minister.