Counting across 293 seats reveals BJP crossing halfway mark; TMC trails as key leaders face tight contests
Guwahati: Counting for 293 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal began on May 4, 2026, with trends evolving rapidly through successive rounds. The contest will decide whether the All India Trinamool Congress retains power or if the Bharatiya Janata Party forms its first government in the state.
The BJP had crossed the halfway mark, leading in 167 seats, moving well past the majority mark of 148 in the 294-member Assembly. The TMC was trailing with 82 leads, while BGPM, AJUP, CPI(M), and AISF were ahead in one seat each. Notably, the Congress had not opened its account.
Earlier trends showed a steady rise for the BJP: 52 seats at 10:20 am, over 90 by 10:45 am, 100+ by 11:00 am, and 140 by 11:25 am, indicating consistent momentum.
In key constituencies, Suvendu Adhikari was engaged in a tight contest in Bhabanipur against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with the lead fluctuating and margins staying under 2,000 votes. Adhikari later claimed a 2,200-vote lead after trailing initially.
In Kharagpur Sadar, BJP’s Dilip Ghosh led by over 3,000 votes. In Panihati, BJP candidate Ratna Debnath led after the first round, while in Diamond Harbour, BJP’s Dipak Kumar Halder was ahead by over 2,500 votes.
The BJP also led in key seats such as Jalpaiguri, Burwan, Hingalganj, Nandigram, Barabani, Matigara-Naxalbari, Kaliaganj, Maldaha, and Jadavpur. Meanwhile, the TMC maintained leads in Kolkata Port, Howrah Madhya, Howrah Dakshin, Coochbehar Dakshin, Singur, Chowrangee, and Canning Paschim.
However, several TMC leaders, including ministers Sashi Panja and Udayan Guha, were trailing in Shyampukur and Dinhata, respectively. The party described the trends as “fishy” and urged caution.
With a 92 percent voter turnout, the election remains closely watched. Although trends favour the BJP so far, multiple rounds are still pending, leaving room for shifts before the final verdict.
Also Read: Kerala Assembly Results 2026: UDF Leads in 100 Seats, LDF Ahead in 40
