The Election Commission of India (ECI) began counting votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections at 8 am, with early trends indicating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken the lead. Initial numbers started coming in shortly after counting commenced across centres.
As of 11.54 am, the ECI data shows TMC at 80, BJP at 167, BGPM at 1 and CPI(M) at 1.
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These early trends are based on initial rounds of counting and are expected to shift as more votes are tallied through the day.
ECI website High-stakes contest in Bengal
The elections in West Bengal were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The contest has been closely watched, with the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking to retain power.
The TMC is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in the state, while the BJP is looking to secure its first-ever victory in West Bengal. The campaign period saw intense political activity, with both parties focusing heavily on key constituencies.
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Other parties in the fray
Apart from the BJP and TMC, other parties are also contesting the elections. These include the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), adding further layers to the electoral contest.
While the main battle remains between the BJP and TMC, the presence of multiple parties could influence margins in several seats.
Counting underway across 293 seats
Counting is being held for 293 Assembly seats. The Election Commission had earlier ordered repolling in the Falta constituency on May 21, which is not part of today's counting process.
As counting progresses through multiple rounds, trends are expected to evolve. Early leads may change as more votes from different constituencies are counted, giving a clearer picture of the final outcome later in the day.
