00:00Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sebarathia Janata Party BJP
00:05are on course to win two of India's most closely watched state elections
00:10according to early counting trends.
00:13The party is set to retain power in the eastern state of Assam for a third straight term
00:18and is also leading in West Bengal, a state it has never governed before.
00:24Results from the election commission show the BJP ahead in both states,
00:29which border Bangladesh, where immigration and border security have been key campaign issues.
00:35The BJP has only had a small presence in West Bengal until recent years
00:40but has expanded its footprint through intensive campaigning by Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
00:46If confirmed, the results would strengthen Modi's position ahead of next year's key state elections
00:52in Uttar Pradesh, India's most popular state, and signal a partial recovery
00:57after the BJP fell short of a majority in last year's general election.
01:02Beyond the north and east, counting is also underway in southern India.
01:07Tamil Nadu, one of India's most industrialised states, is headed for a surprise election outcome,
01:13with actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay pulling well ahead of the incumbent in the ongoing vote counting.
01:19In Kerala, early results show a congress-led alliance ahead of the ruling communist coalition
01:25in what could mark a shift in the state's long-standing political balance.
01:30And in Puducherry, trends suggest the BJP-led alliance is on course to return to power.
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