Mamata Banerjee Urges TMC Candidates to Stay at Counting Centres Amid BJP Lead

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged candidates of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and their counting agents to remain at counting centres, alleging a “game plan” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India to project misleading early trends.

In a video message issued during the ongoing counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, Banerjee appealed to party workers to stay vigilant and not lose morale.

“I appeal to everyone that neither TMC candidates nor counting agents should leave the counting centres,” she said.

Her remarks came as early trends on the Election Commission’s website showed the BJP leading in around 188 seats, well past the majority mark of 148 in the 294-member Assembly, while the TMC was trailing significantly.

However, Banerjee claimed that her party was ahead in a substantial number of constituencies and alleged that data from several seats where the TMC was leading was not being reflected.

“We are still ahead in many seats, but a false narrative is being spread,” she said, alleging that results or leads from certain constituencies were not being declared.

The TMC chief also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the counting process, claiming that counting had been halted after initial rounds in some areas and citing “anomalies” in electronic voting machines in places like Kalyani.

She further accused central forces of harassing TMC workers and alleged that party offices were being vandalised.

Seeking to reassure party cadres, Banerjee emphasised that multiple rounds of counting were still pending and urged them to stay firm.

“Fourteen to eighteen rounds of counting will happen. Don’t be afraid; fight like tigers,” she said.

Officials, however, maintained that counting was progressing as per procedure and cautioned that trends could change as more rounds are completed, with final results expected later in the day.