Modi's BJP set for surprise gains in India state elections, exit polls show

- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party ​and its allies were projected to win ​two of four state elections, ‌exit polls ​showed on Wednesday, projecting a surprise gain that would strengthen the party's dominance across the country. Modi's BJP has won most ‌state elections since a shocking performance in the 2024 general election when it lost its outright majority and had to rely on alliance partners to form a government.

* The eastern states of Assam ‌and West Bengal, the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along with the ‌federally administered territory of Puducherry, are all electing new governments. * Voting ended on Wednesday. Ballots will be counted on May 4 and results announced the same day.

* A BJP-led alliance has ruled Assam for the last ⁠10 years. It ​is projected to ⁠easily win a majority and return to power for a third straight term. * In West Bengal, where BJP ⁠fought a pitched battle against the ruling Trinamool Congress party, most pollsters predicted an upset win for BJP.

* ​Top BJP leaders, including Modi, campaigned for weeks in West Bengal, focusing on who ⁠they say are illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and the weak economy as key issues. * In Tamil Nadu, a ⁠major ​industrial hub for electronics and automobiles, the ruling regional DMK party's alliance was projected to win a second straight term.

* In Kerala, the only state ruled by communists, ⁠the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its allies are likely to lose to an opposition alliance led ⁠by the Congress ⁠party in a tight race, exit polls showed. * Exit polls in India have a mixed record and can be inaccurate, given the country's ‌vast and ‌diverse electorate. (Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by ​YP Rajesh and Tomasz Janowski)

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