A major political controversy has erupted in West Bengal as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused authorities of bias in the ongoing vote-counting process, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged ahead in early trends.
Addressing party workers, Banerjee urged counting agents and candidates not to leave counting centres, alleging that the BJP was being deliberately shown ahead in initial rounds. She claimed that counting had been halted at several places and raised concerns over alleged discrepancies in voting machines in areas like Kalyani. The Trinamool Congress chief also accused central forces and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of acting in a biased manner.
Despite trailing in early trends, Banerjee expressed confidence in a turnaround, telling party workers, “You will win after sunset,” and urging them not to lose morale, stating that only a few rounds of counting had been completed while many more remained.
According to ECI trends, the BJP was leading on 121 seats, while the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was ahead in 71 seats, with its ally BGPM leading in one seat. Projections from various news channels indicated that the BJP could cross the halfway mark in the 294-member Assembly, suggesting a potential historic victory in the state.
In constituency-level updates, TMC candidate Partha Pratim Ray was leading in Cooch Behar Uttar, maintaining a narrow margin over BJP’s Sukumar Ray after early rounds of counting.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence in the BJP forming the government, citing early trends and what he described as anti-incumbency against the ruling TMC. He also pointed to shifts in voting patterns across communities and regions as a key factor behind the BJP’s performance.
The election witnessed record voter participation, with over 92% turnout across phases — the highest since Independence — reflecting the intensity of the contest. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the TMC had secured a sweeping mandate with 213 seats, while the BJP had emerged as the principal opposition with 77 seats.
As counting continues, the political atmosphere in Bengal remains tense, with both sides making strong claims and counterclaims over the unfolding results.
