Counting of votes for 293 Assembly seats in West Bengal began on Monday (May 4, 2026), marking a crucial verdict day after weeks of intense campaigning. Early trends indicate a strong performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is aiming for a historic first victory in the state, while the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) seeks to retain power.
According to initial data, the BJP has crossed the halfway mark in early leads, putting pressure on the TMC in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested election. Meanwhile, both the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and the Indian National Congress are closely tracking developments, hoping to regain relevance in the state after their wipeout in the 2021 Assembly polls.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had made extensive arrangements for counting, deploying 165 additional counting observers and 77 police observers to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
This year’s election witnessed record voter participation, with 92.8% turnout in the first phase on April 23 and 91.47% in the second phase on April 29 — the highest since Independence, as per the State’s Chief Electoral Officer.
Despite the BJP’s early surge, TMC leaders have urged caution, calling the trends “premature” and raising concerns over several party candidates trailing in initial rounds. The developments have sparked anxiety among TMC supporters, with party leaders refraining from making any early claims of victory.
As counting progresses, all eyes remain on whether the early trends will hold or shift, in what could be a defining moment for Bengal’s political landscape.
