KOLKATA—A major electoral win in the east was celebrated with sweets, slogans, and one minister accidentally thanking Mumbai weather. Strategists called it historic realignment; taxi drivers called it Tuesday with more horns.

Opposition promised introspection; ruling party promised infrastructure; citizens promised to believe whichever completes first. Firecrackers sold out; patience did not.

Analysts said Bengal politics is chess; WhatsApp said it is ludo with extra dice.