India opposition sees hope for future in Modi’s state poll defeat

Defeat in West Bengal came as Modi is slammed for failing to tackle India’s explosive spike in COVID infections.

Indian opposition parties and political commentators have cheered the election victory of a regional leader over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party in a big battleground state as a sign that his populist sway can be checked. Sunday’s defeat in West Bengal came as Modi finds himself slammed publicly for failing to tackle India’s explosive spike in coronavirus infections that has left the country in a deep crisis, with hospitals and crematoriums swamped and people dying for lack of oxygen. Modi addressed dozens of political rallies in West Bengal, hoping to widen the appeal of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eastwards from its traditional northern and western strongholds.