Bengal Polls 2026: BJP Takes Lead, Jubilation in Bhabanipur as TMC Faces Setback

Celebrations erupted outside the Bhabanipur counting centre on Monday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged past the majority mark in early counting trends for the West Bengal Assembly elections, triggering scenes of jubilation among party workers.

Streets around the counting venue quickly filled with supporters waving saffron flags, distributing sweets and chanting slogans as initial numbers pointed to a potential political upset in a state governed by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for over a decade.

According to trends released by the Election Commission of India, the BJP was leading in 173 seats, well past the majority threshold, while the TMC was ahead in 85 constituencies. Smaller parties, including BGPM, AJUP and CPI(M), were leading in one seat each.

Despite the broader trend, the contest in Bhabanipur remained closely watched. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was leading against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by 8,482 votes after four of 20 rounds of counting, indicating that key battles were still unfolding even as the overall picture tilted.

The counting process is ongoing, and final results have yet to be officially declared.

Adhikari, contesting from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, expressed confidence that the BJP would form the next government with a comfortable majority. “The BJP will form the government with more than 180 seats,” he said, as early trends strengthened the party’s position.

The mood on the ground reflected a mix of celebration and confrontation, with political rhetoric sharpening alongside the numbers. Party workers gathered in large numbers outside counting centres, even as security remained on high alert to manage crowds and ensure smooth proceedings.

The high-stakes contest comes against the backdrop of record voter participation. West Bengal recorded one of its highest-ever turnouts, with Phase II polling at 91.66 per cent and Phase I at 93.19 per cent, taking the combined turnout to over 92 per cent.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the TMC had secured a decisive victory, winning 213 out of 294 seats, while the BJP emerged as the principal opposition with 77 seats. The current trends, if sustained, would mark a significant reversal in the state’s political landscape.

With counting still underway, the early surge has set the tone for what could be one of the most consequential electoral outcomes in West Bengal in recent years.

(With inputs from ANI)