Bengal election count: BJP leads 73-59 over TMC after first hour
Synopsis
BJP is leading TMC 73-59 in early West Bengal Assembly counting trends, with the Left Front — which ruled the state for over 30 years — yet to register a single lead. The Bhabanipur seat, where Mamata Banerjee faces Suvendu Adhikari directly, is still awaited.
Key Takeaways
BJP leads with 73 seats against TMC's 59 after the first hour of counting as of 9 am IST on 4 May .
Trends available for 134 of 293 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal .
Congress leads in only 2 seats ; CPI(M)-led Left Front has zero leads so far.
Suvendu Adhikari is leading at Nandigram ; no trend yet for Bhabanipur where he faces CM Mamata Banerjee .
BJP leading in parts of minority-dominated Malda district , a notable early surprise.
Counting will run between 10 and 26 rounds depending on constituency voter numbers.
Kolkata, 4 May — After the first hour of counting for the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections, early trends from 134 of 293 constituencies show a tight contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the BJP marginally ahead. As of 9 am IST, the BJP was leading in 73 seats against TMC's 59, while the Congress held leads in just two constituencies and the CPI(M)-led Left Front had not secured a single lead.
Early Trends at a Glance
With trends available for fewer than half the state's constituencies, the picture remains fluid. The BJP's leads are concentrated largely in North Bengal districts, while TMC holds ground in South Bengal. Notably, BJP candidates are reportedly leading in several seats in the minority-dominated Malda district — a development observers are watching closely, given the district's historical voting patterns.
Bhabanipur Contest Still Awaited
As of 9 am, no trend was available for the high-profile Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. However, Adhikari is currently leading at his native Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is simultaneously contesting this election cycle.
Prominent Leaders in Early Leads
Among notable BJP candidates leading at this stage are Dilip Ghosh, the party's former national vice-president, contesting from Kharagpur (Sadar) in West Midnapore district, and journalist-turned-politician Jagannath Chattopadhyay. On the Congress side, Mausam Benazir Noor — a former Congress Lok Sabha member who later served as a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member before returning to Congress ahead of these polls — is leading from Malatipur constituency in Malda district. Both Congress leads are in Malda.
Congress and Left Front Struggle to Register
The near-total absence of the Left Front from early trends is a striking development, given that the CPI(M)-led alliance governed West Bengal for over three decades before TMC ended its run in 2011. Congress, too, is marginal, with its two leads confined to a single district. This comes amid a broader national trend of the Left's shrinking electoral footprint outside Kerala.
What to Watch Next
Counting will proceed over a minimum of 10 rounds and a maximum of 26 rounds, depending on constituency-wise voter numbers. The Bhabanipur result — pitting the Chief Minister directly against the Leader of Opposition — is expected to be among the most closely watched outcomes of the day. Final trends are likely to stabilise significantly by mid-morning.
Point of View
The geographic concentration of its leads in South Bengal suggests its urban and peri-urban base is holding, but North Bengal appears to be slipping. The BJP's inroads into Malda, a Muslim-majority district, would — if they hold — represent a significant rewriting of the state's communal voting calculus. The Bhabanipur result, when it comes, will be watched nationally: a Mamata loss there would trigger a constitutional crisis for her government.
NationPress
4 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early trends in the West Bengal Assembly election count?
As of 9 am IST on 4 May, the BJP is leading in 73 seats and TMC in 59, based on trends from 134 of 293 constituencies. Congress leads in 2 seats and the Left Front has no leads.
Who is contesting from Bhabanipur in the West Bengal elections?
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting from Bhabanipur against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. No trend was available for this constituency as of 9 am in the first hour of counting.
How is Suvendu Adhikari performing in early trends?
Suvendu Adhikari is leading at his native Nandigram constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is simultaneously contesting alongside Bhabanipur.
Why is the Left Front's performance significant in these results?
The CPI(M)-led Left Front governed West Bengal for over three decades before losing to TMC in 2011. Its failure to register a single early lead underscores the dramatic collapse of the Left's electoral base in the state.
How many counting rounds will there be for the West Bengal elections?
Counting will proceed over a minimum of 10 rounds and a maximum of 26 rounds, depending on the number of voters in each constituency.
