ELECTIONS// The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) created history in Assam by ousting Congress, which also lost Kerala to the Left front, while AIADMK and Trinamool Congress retained power in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, respectively, for a second consecutive term.

Ending its 15-year rule in the northeastern state of Assam, the once-mighty Congress lost to the BJP. Congress leader Tarun Gogoi accepted defeat and the verdict of the people of Assam with all humility and congratulated Sarbananda Sonowal and the BJP for their grand success. He also promised to fulfill their role as Opposition. In Kerala, CPM's Prakash Karat said, “This is a huge win for LDF in Kerala, will bring development for Kerala and take people towards a new direction.”

After the results were declared, a visibly happy Jayalalithaa said, “Promises made in manifesto will be fulfilled, will continuously strive towards making Tamil Nadu first in all spheres of development.” “I convey my heartiest thanks to voters who have reaffirmed their faith on me and given me another chance,” she added.

In an emphatic mandate West Bengal saw Mamata Banerjee winning by a huge margin. It was another clean sweep, with her party winning 211 of the state's 294 seats. The Left-Congress alliance was far behind at 77. Banerjee thanked the people of Bengal and reassured them there is no corruption in Bengal and that it is a “corruption-less” state.

Meanwhile, there was some good news for the Congress from Puducherry, where it won 17 of 30 seats. Thanking all the voters across the five states for "believing in BJP", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "The polls have made it clear that BJP’s ideology is being accepted, appreciated, supported by people of the country." Like in the previous assembly election polls, the “None of the above” (NOTA) option had few takers in all the five states.

After the election results the once mighty Congress party will control just six of India’s 29 states, down from 15 in 2013, while the BJP would hold power in 10 states, with regional parties and coalitions leading the rest.