Bengal polls 2026: BJP leads in 147 seats vs TMC's 82 after 3 hours of counting
Synopsis
BJP is leading in 147 of 232 counted seats versus TMC's 82 — and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is reportedly trailing BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in her own Bhabanipur stronghold. If these trends hold, it would mark the most dramatic political reversal in West Bengal in over a decade.
Key Takeaways
BJP is leading in 147 constituencies versus TMC's 82 as of 11:30 am IST on 4 May , with trends available for 232 of 293 seats.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is marginally trailing BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in the high-profile Bhabanipur seat in South Kolkata .
Suvendu Adhikari is simultaneously contesting and leading from Nandigram in East Midnapore district .
700 companies of central forces have been retained in West Bengal indefinitely to prevent post-poll violence, citing the 2021 precedent.
Repolling in Falta constituency , South 24 Parganas , is scheduled for 21 May , with results on 24 May .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates are leading in 147 of the 232 Assembly constituencies where trends are available, far ahead of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) at 82 seats, as counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections entered its third hour on Monday, 4 May in Kolkata. The early trends, available on the Election Commission of India (ECI) website as of 11:30 am IST, point to a significant BJP surge in a state the party has long sought to wrest from Trinamool.
Early Seat-by-Seat Trends
Of the 293 total Assembly constituencies where counting is under way, trends were available for 232 as of 11:30 am. Besides BJP's 147 and TMC's 82, the Left Front–All India Secular Front (AISF) alliance is leading in one constituency, as is the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) — a party founded by former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir. Kabir himself is reportedly leading from the Rejinagar Assembly constituency in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district.
Mamata vs Adhikari: The High-Stakes Bhabanipur Battle
The most closely watched contest of the election is unfolding in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is reportedly trailing — marginally, as per trends available till 11 am — against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. Notably, Adhikari is simultaneously contesting from his native Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is also leading, making him a central figure in this election cycle. A loss for Banerjee in Bhabanipur would carry enormous political symbolism, given the constituency's status as her stronghold.
Election Commission Appeals for Restraint
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Monday morning issued an appeal to all political parties to maintain restraint once the final results are declared. Agarwal stated that any victory procession in the districts would require prior permission from the district magistrate and the district electoral officer. "At the same time, I appeal to all political parties to maintain restraint after the final results are declared officially. In a democratic process, some parties will win, and some parties will lose. But that victory or defeat should not result in violence," Agarwal said.
700 Central Forces Companies Retained to Prevent Post-Poll Violence
The Election Commission of India has decided to retain 700 companies of central paramilitary forces in West Bengal for an indefinite period, pending further orders, specifically to prevent post-poll violence — a precaution drawn from the 2021 assembly elections, which saw widespread violence after results were declared. The move underscores the ECI's heightened sensitivity to law-and-order in the state. Additionally, repolling for the entire Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district is scheduled for 21 May, with results to be announced on 24 May.
What Happens Next
With counting still in progress across all 293 constituencies, the final picture will emerge over the coming hours. A BJP majority would mark a historic shift in Bengal's political landscape, ending over a decade of Trinamool dominance. All eyes remain on Bhabanipur and Nandigram as the two contests most likely to define the political narrative of this election.
Point of View
Not final results — but the margin matters. BJP leading in nearly twice as many seats as TMC after three hours of counting is not a statistical blip; it suggests a structural shift in voter preference across constituencies that Trinamool has held comfortably for years. The Bhabanipur contest is the emotional centrepiece, but the real story may be in the aggregate: whether BJP has finally cracked Bengal's rural and minority-adjacent belts that TMC has long locked down. The ECI's decision to retain 700 paramilitary companies is itself a quiet admission that the 2021 post-poll violence was not an aberration — and that the commission does not trust the state machinery to hold the peace on its own.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the latest trends in the West Bengal election results 2026?
As of 11:30 am IST on 4 May, BJP is leading in 147 of 232 constituencies where trends are available, compared to TMC's 82. Counting is ongoing across all 293 Assembly seats.
Is Mamata Banerjee winning or losing in Bhabanipur?
According to trends available till 11 am, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is marginally trailing BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata. These are early trends and the final result is yet to be declared.
Why has the Election Commission retained central forces in West Bengal?
The Election Commission of India has retained 700 companies of central paramilitary forces in West Bengal indefinitely to prevent post-poll violence, citing the violence that occurred after the 2021 assembly elections as a precedent.
What is the Falta constituency repolling about?
Repolling for the entire Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district is scheduled for 21 May, with results to be announced on 24 May. The reasons for the repolling were not specified in available information.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari and why is he significant in Bengal 2026?
Suvendu Adhikari is a BJP leader contesting simultaneously from both Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies. He is leading in both seats as per early trends, making him a pivotal figure in BJP's challenge to TMC's dominance in West Bengal.
