Analysis-India's Modi seen unstoppable after surprise state polls sweep

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrate after winning three out of four states in key regional polls outside the party headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, December 3, 2023.REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's opposition faces a "herculean task" in next year's general elections against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which wrested control of key states in a surprisingly strong showing in local polls.

The defeat of Congress in all three heartland states, which was announced on Sunday, dashed any notion that the opposition could pose a serious challenge through a newly formed 28-party alliance led by the party that has ruled India for 54 years since independence from Britain, analysts and politicians said.