BJP leads 188 seats in Bengal; Maliwal says era of violence ending
Synopsis
With BJP leading in 188 Bengal Assembly seats against TMC's 94, newly defected Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal declared an end to decades of 'thuggery, violence, and appeasement' in the state. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi called it a 'wave of nationalism' set to become a 'tsunami' — a claim that, if results hold, would mark one of India's most consequential political reversals.
Key Takeaways
BJP was leading in 188 Assembly seats in West Bengal as per ECI trends at around 1:25 pm IST on 4 May .
TMC was ahead in 94 seats at the same point, reflecting a significant gap.
Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal , who recently switched from AAP to BJP , declared an end to decades of "thuggery, violence, and appeasement" in Bengal.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said exit polls and counting trends were pointing in the same direction, calling it a "wave of nationalism." The BJP and NDA were also reportedly set to form governments again in Assam and Puducherry .
Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal on Monday, 4 May declared that the decades-old politics of "violence" and "appeasement" in West Bengal is coming to an end, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded leads in 188 Assembly seats in the state, according to Election Commission of India (ECI) trends available at around 1:25 pm IST. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was ahead in 94 seats at the same point, pointing to a significant gap between the two parties.
Maliwal's Reaction
Posting on X, Maliwal — who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP — said, "The BJP in West Bengal is marching towards a historic and resounding victory. The decades-old politics of thuggery, violence, and appeasement of vote banks is now set to come to an end."
She extended congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President Nitin Nabin, describing the trends as a "splendid success" for the party and its workers.
BJP's Confidence and Key Voices
The BJP expressed strong confidence in its performance, asserting that ECI trends reflected a "strong wave" in its favour and that the people of West Bengal were making their voice heard by "defeating fear."
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi told IANS that exit polls and counting trends were pointing in the same direction. "There is a wave of nationalism in Bengal. The trends will soon turn into results, and the wave will take the form of a tsunami," he said.
Trivedi further credited the conduct of the polls to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, Suvendu Adhikari, and Samik Bhattacharya, calling it "a sign of revolution."
Performance in Assam and Puducherry
Maliwal also noted that the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were set to form the government again in Assam and Puducherry, citing what she described as a "stellar performance" in both territories.
What Happens Next
As trends harden into final results, all eyes will be on whether the BJP crosses the majority mark in West Bengal — a state that has eluded the party despite sustained electoral campaigns. A decisive win would mark a historic shift in Bengal's political landscape, ending decades of Left and TMC dominance.
Point of View
And Bengal's counting history has seen dramatic reversals. Maliwal's remarks, coming from a politician who crossed the aisle just recently, carry the weight of political positioning as much as conviction. The more telling signal is Sudhanshu Trivedi's framing of 'nationalism' as the dominant wave — a narrative the BJP has tried to plant in Bengal for over a decade. Whether the arithmetic holds by end of day will determine if this is a genuine political earthquake or another near-miss dressed up in triumphalist language.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats is BJP leading in West Bengal?
As per ECI trends available at around 1:25 pm IST on 4 May, the BJP was leading in 188 Assembly seats in West Bengal, while the TMC was ahead in 94 seats.
What did Swati Maliwal say about West Bengal election trends?
Swati Maliwal posted on X that the BJP is marching towards a "historic and resounding victory" and that the decades-old politics of "thuggery, violence, and appeasement of vote banks" is set to come to an end in West Bengal.
Who is Swati Maliwal and why did she switch parties?
Swati Maliwal is a Rajya Sabha member who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP. She has been vocal in supporting BJP's electoral campaigns since her switch.
What did BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi say about the Bengal results?
Sudhanshu Trivedi told IANS that both exit polls and counting trends were pointing in the same direction, describing it as a "wave of nationalism" that would soon become a "tsunami" of results.
How is the BJP performing in Assam and Puducherry?
According to Swati Maliwal, the BJP and the NDA were set to form the government again in both Assam and Puducherry, citing what she called a stellar performance in those states.
