The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared headed for a clear majority in the West Bengal Assembly by 12 noon, with early trends showing the party leading at 167 seats, well past the halfway mark of 148 seats in the 293-member Assembly. This surge reflected a significant lead over the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was leading in just 80 seats.
Apart from CPI(M), BGPM (Bharatiya Gorkha Projatantrik Morcha (BGPM) and AISF also managed to lead in at least one seat, according to the latest updates till 12 noon by the Election Commission of India.
In the aftermath of the massive deletion of voters during the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal, the State witnessed record voter turnouts in both the first and second phases of the high-stakes Assembly elections on April 23 and April 29, respectively.
After a bitterly contested Assembly elections, the votes for 293 Assembly polls are being counted on Monday as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced repolling for Falta Assembly seat in South 24 Parganas district on May 21 on account of electoral malpractices.
BJP supporters celebrate after the ranking of their party during the West Bengal Assembly elections result day, at Shibpur constituency, in Howrah | Photo Credit: PTI
During the last assembly election in 2021, the BJP won 77 seats, while the Trinamool Congress won in 215 constituencies in the 294 West Bengal Assembly.
During the election campaign, issues like incumbent Trinamool Congress’s alleged corruption, RG Kar hospital death-murder case, jobs and women’s safety, Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the controversial women’s reservation Bill came up.
After the first phase of the elections, Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Bengal for their massive turnout in the Assembly elections, and said the vote figures so far were indicative of an “overwhelming mandate for change”.
Addressing a poll rally in Nadia district, Modi asserted that violence during the Assembly polls remained at a minimum in 50 years.
“Violence was kept at a minimum in the last 50 years of poll history in Bengal. The information I have received so far makes me certain that this is going to be a mandate for a change,” he added.
“From the mood I have sensed in Bengal, I can say I have to come again for the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government after May 4,” Modi had said.
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Published on May 4, 2026