India: Modi’s ruling BJP loses crucial West Bengal state election

Mamata Banerjee is set to be the chief minister for the third time after her TMC party won a two-thirds majority.

The incumbent chief minister’s party in India’s West Bengal state has defeated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in state elections held as the coronavirus pandemic surged to crisis levels. Modi has been criticised for focusing on the elections instead of making the pandemic his top priority. Some experts blame the federal election commission for allowing rallies and voting in which large crowds flouted rules on social distancing and mask-wearing.