Indian leader’s party takes electoral hit amid virus surge

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally ahead of West Bengal state elections in Kolkata, India (Bikas Das/AP)

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi suffered a resounding defeat in a key state election on Sunday, indicating his Hindu nationalist party’s political strength may be slipping as the country struggles to contain an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was unable to dislodge West Bengal state’s firebrand chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, after a hard-fought campaign.