Kolkata, May 4
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), opened a significant lead on Monday as counting progressed in the state assembly elections, raising the prospect of a major political shift in a region long dominated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Early trends released by the Election Commission of India showed the BJP ahead in 152 seats, while the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was leading in 81 in the 294-member assembly. With the halfway mark at 148, the BJP’s early advantage placed it within striking distance of forming the government, though officials cautioned that trends can shift as counting continues.
The contest is widely seen as a test of Banerjee’s bid for a fourth consecutive term, challenged by a resurgent BJP seeking to convert its growing support base into power.
Counting began at 08:00 local time, starting with postal ballots before electronic voting machines were opened. Officials said results were being compiled steadily, but emphasised that early leads often fluctuate.
Initial patterns suggested a divided electoral landscape. The BJP appeared to be gaining ground in border districts, tribal belts and industrial regions, while the TMC retained strength in parts of Kolkata and several rural strongholds.
In a closely watched contest, Banerjee was leading in her Bhabanipur seat by a narrow margin after early rounds, offering some relief to her party in a high-profile constituency. However, the lead changed hands during successive rounds, underlining the volatility of early counting.
In Nandigram, another key battleground, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was shown ahead of his rival in early television projections, though official figures were still being updated.
Across the state, several senior TMC leaders were trailing their BJP opponents in early rounds, prompting caution within the ruling party. In Dinhata, minister Udayan Guha was behind, while in Sabang, veteran leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia trailed despite a strong electoral history.
Urban signals also indicated a competitive race. In Kolkata, BJP candidate Purnima Chakraborty was leading over TMC minister Shashi Panja in early counting, suggesting potential shifts in some city constituencies.
Elsewhere, BJP candidates were ahead in constituencies spanning north Bengal, Junglemahal and industrial regions, including areas such as Bankura and Durgapur. Meanwhile, the TMC maintained leads in pockets like Deganga and several urban and rural constituencies, reflecting a fragmented mandate.
Regional dynamics were also visible. In the Darjeeling hills, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), aligned with the TMC, was leading in Kalimpong. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also showed an early lead in one constituency in Murshidabad district.
In a separate development, polling in the Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district was countermanded due to reported electoral violations, officials said.
With counting still under way, election authorities warned that clearer trends would emerge only after multiple rounds are completed, leaving both parties awaiting a more definitive picture later in the day.
