The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID–19 crisis. A counting agent in protective suit stands as security men guard during the counting of votes of Assam state assembly election in Gauhati, India, Sunday, May 2, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Anupam Nath Advertisement 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.