The BJP will focus its energy on conquering Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the next five years after its almost complete takeover of the northeast in the national election, the party's strategist in the region Himanta Biswa Sarma told NDTV. He also faulted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "trying to stop people from praising Lord Ram" in the eastern state where the BJP won 18 of the 42 seats, a massive improvement over its 2014 performance when it won only two seats.