In West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP is heading towards a victory, as per trends available so far. Counting is taking place for 293 assembly constituencies, out of a total 294. Trends are available for all 293 seats. BJP is leading in 192, Trinamool Congress is ahead in 95, CPM in one and others 4. The Trinamool Congress is staring at defeat after 15 years in power, in the first election after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). West Bengal Assembly has 294 seats. To form the government, a simple majority of 148 seats is needed. Any party or coalition of parties must gain the magic figure to win the election.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee is leading over her BJP rival Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur constituency, while Suvendu Adhikari is leading in Nandigram seat. Sitting BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul is leading in Asansol Dakshin seat over her nearest rival Tapas Banerjee of TMC. BJP candidate Sarbari Mukherjee is leading over her nearest rival of TMC in the erstwhile Left bastion of Jadavpur in south Kolkata. BJP candidate Ratna Debnath, mother of the victim doctor in RG Kar rape and murder horror, is leading from Panihati. Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir is leading in the Nowda seat over his nearest TMC rival.
BJP candidate and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the BJP will form the next government in West Bengal.
While TMC eyes third term, BJP seeks historic win after record turnout of 92.49 percent in a two-phase polling.
The polling was held in two phases — on April 23 for 152 seats and on April 29 for 142 seats, recording a voter turnout of 92.47 per cent — the highest since Independence.
While repolling was held in 11 booths of Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour assembly segment on May 2, the EC countermanded polls in the adjacent Falta constituency, citing severe electoral offences and subversion of democratic process during polling in a large number of polling stations. The fresh poll in that seat will take place on May 21, and counting on May 24.
The elections have been keenly contested, with the ruling TMC aiming to retain power for a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP is seeking a historic breakthrough in the state. The CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress are looking to regain lost ground after their rout in the 2021 elections.
More than 2.5 lakh personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with state police, have been deployed in the run-up to the counting.
In state capital Kolkata, counting for 11 assembly constituencies is being conducted across five locations.
TMC contested 291 seats, while its ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), led by Anit Thapa, fielded candidates in three seats in the Darjeeling Hills. The BJP fielded candidates in all 294 seats, while the Congress contested 292 seats.
The four-party Left Front contested 246 seats, and lent support to CPIM(L) Liberation on 10 assembly segments, ISF and SDPI on 29 seats, and an Independent and other Left-wing outfits on the remaining seats.
In the 2021 elections, the TMC had won 215 seats, while the BJP bagged 77, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and ISF one seat each.
