Assembly poll results: How do they alter the political calculus in India? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 5, 2026 · 35 MIN

Assembly poll results: How do they alter the political calculus in India?

from In Focus by The Hindu · host The Hindu

The assembly election results have sharply changed the political landscape in India, with the BJP set to form a government on its own for the first time in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, the three-term chief minister often spoken of as the ‘real’ Opposition leader to the BJP, has ended up losing her own seat. In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a two-year-old political start-up, has emerged as the single largest party, leaving both the Dravidian behemoths, DMK and the AIADMK, in the dust. TVK chief and actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay is expected to become the next Chief Minister, though questions remain about government formation. While the Congress-led UDF returned to power in Kerala, the NDA retained power in Assam and Puducherry. How do we read these mandates? What do the outcomes mean for the BJP, for the Opposition, and the Indian polity as a whole? Guest: Anand Mishra, Political Editor, Frontline. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and Editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The assembly election results have sharply changed the political landscape in India, with the BJP set to form a government on its own for the first time in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, the three-term chief minister often spoken of as the ‘real’ Opposition leader to the BJP, has ended up losing her own seat. In Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a two-year-old political start-up, has emerged as the single largest party, leaving both the Dravidian behemoths, DMK and the AIADMK, in the dust. TVK chief and actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay is expected to become the next Chief Minister, though questions remain about government formation. While the Congress-led UDF returned to power in Kerala, the NDA retained power in Assam and Puducherry. How do we read these mandates? What do the outcomes mean for the BJP, for the Opposition, and the Indian polity as a whole? Guest: Anand Mishra, Political Editor, Frontline. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producer and Editor: Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Assembly poll results: How do they alter the political calculus in India?

0:00 35:54

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of In Focus by The Hindu?

This episode is 35 minutes long.

When was this In Focus by The Hindu episode published?

This episode was published on May 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

The assembly election results have sharply changed the political landscape in India, with the BJP set to form a government on its own for the first time in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, the three-term chief minister often spoken of as the ‘real’...

Can I download this In Focus by The Hindu episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!