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In a first, the BJP bagged 206 seats within the 294-member Assembly of West Bengal, with the TMC finishing 2nd with 80 seats

Top Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Nitin Nabin after Bengal obtain | File image: PTI
After the Bharatiya Janata Birthday party (BJP) clinched a historical victory within the West Bengal Assembly Poll, Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim lauded Top Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that the voter turnout within the declare used to be “terribly high” — far above average electoral participation in European and American elections.
In a first, the BJP bagged 206 seats in the 294-member Assembly of West Bengal, with the TMC finishing a distant second with 80 seats.
In a post on ‘X’, Solheim wrote, “Big victory for Prime Minister Modi in India state elections. Its time the West appreciates the strength of Indian democracy! BJP has won a massive victory in state elections in West Bengal and Assam. The turn out was extraordinary high, more than 90%, far above normal participation in European and American elections. With a population of 106 million West Bengal is much larger than any nation in the European Union, so this matters!”
The diplomat emphasised how the election outcomes recent a miles varied picture than that painted by the western media, noting India’s democracy remains rooted in its traditions and history.
“The ought to serene give western media a quit. They somewhat regularly recent high minister Modi as a threat to democracy and his policies as some sort of Hindu extremism. The actuality is precisely the opposite. Indian is not any longer handiest the area’s biggest democracy in size – its moreover one of basically the most stable in disclose material because its no longer a western transplant but rooted in Indian traditions and history”, he wrote.
Big victory for Prime Minister Modi in India 🇮🇳 state elections. Its time the West appreciates the strength of Indian democracy!BJP has won a massive victory in state elections in West Bengal and Assam. The turn out was extraordinary high, more than 90%, far above normal… pic.twitter.com/dzCl186oHT
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) May 5, 2026
Solheim described the results of Tamil Nadu Assembly Election as a “shocking one”. For context, the TVK — led by actor-turned-politician Vijay — marked a stellar debut within the Tamil Nadu polls, ending the duopoly by DMK-AIADMK.
“The day earlier than on the present time’s election produced stunning ends in West Bengal and Kerala and a exceptional one in Tamil Nadu. Restful the losers accept defeat. The prove is high. There is shut to zero violence. Every citizen catch the ballotpapers – even in basically the most distant locations. The dazzling to free speech is uncontested and Indians exercise it broadly”, he opined.
The diplomat recalled the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024, when the BJP fell short of the majority mark. He said how the western media touted the electoral outcome as the “beginning of the end” of the Modi era.
“When BJP done below expectations within the 2024 parliament elections, many western media wrote as if it used to be the starting of the cease for Modiji. Since then the BJP has won declare elections in Odisha, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar – and now Assam and West Bengal. What a revenge! At a time when democracy is threatened within the US and European democracies fight to negate, we ought to serene see to India for inspiration no longer anxiousness!”
Solheim’s Praise For Vijay
Erik Solheim lauded TVK Chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay for an extraordinary performance in the Tamil Nadu Election.
The diplomat pointed out how Vijay ended the duopoly of the DMK and the AIADMK.
In a post on ‘X’, Solheim wrote, “Warm congrats to Vijay – the man who upended Tamil politics! For as long as anyone can remember Tamil Nadu has been dominated by DMK and AIADMK, the parties formed by the two giants of Dravidian politics – Karunanidhi and MGR.”
Warm congrats to Vijay – the man who upended Tamil politics!For therefore long as any individual might maybe well moreover also be conscious Tamil Nadu has been dominated by DMK and AIADMK, the events formed by the 2 giants of Dravidian politics – Karunanidhi and MGR.
This week the voters of Tamil Nadu delivered a… pic.twitter.com/slXkjDL0bP
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) Can also 6, 2026
Describing Vijay’s debut as the “most seismic” one in the history of Tamil Nadu, he wrote: “This week the voters of Tamil Nadu delivered a shock result. With a wide margin they elected Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar a 51-year-old Tamil cinema superstar known to fans as Vijay, or simply as “Thalapathy” (Commander). This is mainly the most seismic electoral debut in Tamil Nadu‘s up to date history. His party TVK obtained 108 seats, shut to straightforward majority.”
“Let’s wish Vijay complete success in taking Tamil Nadu to the next level. Tamil Nadu is already one of India’s most successful states, with high living standards and vibrant business. The aim is a 1 trillion USD economy. As a member of the climate council in the state I have had the honor to support its strong climate policies and the good efforts for conservation of the beautiful nature of Tamil Nadu. I will be happy to continue to give support in the future”, Solheim wrote.
TVK Chief Vijay — who marked a historical debut within the declare assembly election — bagged 108 out of 234 seats. On the replacement hand, it fell attempting the bulk mark, which stands at 118.
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Files india ‘What A Revenge’: Norway Envoy Praises PM Modi After BJP’s Bengal Victory
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