Varanasi women offer prayers for BJP victory as Bengal votes are counted
Synopsis
As West Bengal vote counting began on 4 May, women in Varanasi performed Ganga Aarti and Surya Upasana praying for a BJP win — a symbolic moment in a contest that most exit polls say could end 15 years of TMC rule. The ECI also debuted a new simultaneous postal-EVM counting method, promising clearer trends by noon.
Key Takeaways
Women in Varanasi performed Ganga Aarti , Shankhnaad , and Surya Upasana on 4 May seeking a BJP victory in West Bengal.
Vote counting for 293 of 294 West Bengal Assembly constituencies commenced at 8 am on Monday.
The ECI introduced a new counting format: postal ballots counted alone for the first 30 minutes , then simultaneously with EVM votes.
The Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas is excluded; repolling is scheduled for 21 May , results on 24 May .
In 2021 , TMC won 216 seats against BJP's 77 ; most 2025 exit polls predict a BJP win.
The two-phase polls on 23 and 29 April recorded a turnout of nearly 93 per cent .
Women in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, performed special prayers on Monday, 4 May, seeking a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in West Bengal, as counting of votes from the state's two-phase Assembly elections got underway. The women conducted Ganga Aarti, Shankhnaad, and Surya Upasana, voicing hope for political change in a state ruled by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for 15 consecutive years.
Voices from the Prayers
Speaking to IANS, several women articulated their expectations. "We have prayed here and performed aarti. We hope the BJP comes to power. There should be a change in Bengal. It will benefit students, and we want the BJP to win," one woman said.
Another participant stated, "We performed Shankhnaad and Surya Upasana so that the BJP comes to power in Bengal. We have borne many hardships; now we don't want to suffer anymore." A third woman added, "We have prayed for the BJP to win with a huge majority and performed these rituals with devotion."
Counting Under a Revised ECI Framework
Vote counting for 293 of 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal began at 8 am on Monday, with postal ballots counted first. The Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced a modified counting sequence this cycle: postal ballots are counted exclusively for the first 30 minutes — from 8 am to 8.30 am — after which postal and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes are tallied simultaneously.
An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) explained the rationale: "The counting of the postal ballots only for the first 30 minutes is to ensure that the counting of the postal ballots is completed before the completion of the counting of EVM votes. In case, in any counting room, if the counting of postal ballots is not completed before the last two rounds of counting, the counting of EVM votes will be kept on hold for some time, and only postal ballots will be counted during that period. The EVM vote counting will resume after the counting of postal ballots is completed." The official added that a clear trend in results would be available by noon under this new process.
The Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district is excluded from Monday's count; the ECI ordered a repolling there on 21 May, with results to be declared on 24 May.
The Political Stakes in West Bengal
The principal contest in West Bengal is between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. In the 2021 Assembly elections, TMC swept 216 seats, the BJP won 77, and the All India Secular Front (AISF) secured one. Neither the Indian National Congress (Congress) nor the CPI(M)-led Left Front could win a single seat despite contesting in alliance.
This time, the Left Front and Congress have contested independently, though the Left Front retained a seat-sharing arrangement with the AISF. Both formations are primarily focused on reopening their account in the state Assembly after being shut out in 2021.
Record Turnout and Exit Poll Predictions
The two-phase polls were held on 23 April and 29 April, recording a near-record turnout of approximately 93 per cent. Most exit poll projections — barring two — have predicted the end of the 15-year TMC regime and the start of BJP rule in the state, though exit polls in West Bengal have historically been unreliable.
With counting progressing through the day, all eyes remain on whether the exit poll consensus holds or whether TMC secures a fourth consecutive term.
Point of View
Not merely a state contest. Meanwhile, the ECI's revised counting sequence is a meaningful procedural reform, but the real test is whether it reduces the confusion that has historically accompanied close Bengal counts. Most exit polls predict TMC's ouster, but Bengal has confounded pollsters before — the 2021 result was a case study in how ground reality can diverge sharply from pre-count narratives.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did women in Varanasi offer prayers for the BJP in West Bengal?
Women in Varanasi performed Ganga Aarti, Shankhnaad, and Surya Upasana on 4 May to seek a BJP victory in West Bengal's Assembly election results. They expressed hope for political change, citing hardships under the current TMC government and aspirations for better outcomes for students.
When did West Bengal vote counting begin and how many seats are being counted?
Counting began at 8 am on Monday, 4 May, covering 293 of 294 Assembly constituencies. The Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas is excluded due to a repolling order for 21 May, with its results to be declared on 24 May.
What is the new ECI counting method introduced for West Bengal 2025?
The Election Commission of India introduced a revised format where postal ballots are counted exclusively for the first 30 minutes (8 am to 8.30 am), after which postal and EVM votes are tallied simultaneously. This is designed to ensure postal ballot counting completes before EVM counting ends, with clear trends expected by noon.
What were the results of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election?
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election, Trinamool Congress won 216 seats, BJP secured 77, and AISF won one. Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front failed to win a single seat despite contesting in alliance.
What do exit polls predict for the 2025 West Bengal Assembly election?
Most exit poll predictions for the 2025 West Bengal election, barring two, forecast the end of TMC's 15-year rule and the beginning of BJP governance in the state. The two-phase polls on 23 and 29 April recorded a turnout of nearly 93 per cent.
