Battlefield 2026: India Braces for Crucial Elections, Major Power Shifts Ahead

• India faces a year of critical elections and leadership transitions in 2026, reshaping state and national power dynamics after 2024-25 results.
• Major electoral battles include BMC, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam, testing regional and national parties' resilience.
• BMC elections are the first key contest, testing BJP's momentum and the reunited Thackeray-Pawar alliance in Maharashtra.
• West Bengal sees an intense TMC vs. BJP battle, while Southern states (TN, Kerala) challenge traditional strongholds; Kerala polls are existential for the Left.
• Up to 75 Rajya Sabha seats will be vacant, potentially altering the central government's legislative power for reforms like 'One Nation One Election'.

Why It Matters: 2026 is a pivotal year for Indian politics, with major elections and leadership changes defining future power.