The Election Commission of India released partial results, showing Bharatiya Janata Party ahead in at least 190 seats in the 294-member West Bengal state legislature. Final results are expected Monday evening.
The outcome marks a significant breakthrough for Modi’s party, which had tried for years to dislodge the All India Trinamool Congress government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has never governed West Bengal, a politically influential state, where Banerjee — one of Modi’s most prominent critics — has held power since 2011.
Opposition parties have sharply criticized the polls in West Bengal after the election commission removed millions of voters from electoral rolls.
Three other states are also taking part in the latest election.
The South Asian country of more than 1.4 billion people has 28 states and eight federal territories. Staggered state elections are held at different times across India, with few state polls scheduled almost every year.