West Bengal Election Results 2026 Live Updates: BJP Surges Past Majority, Mamata Banerjee Leads in Bhabanipur

Kolkata: Counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 is underway, with early trends showing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossing the majority mark and gaining a strong lead across the state.

According to the latest trends, the BJP is leading in over 180 seats, well above the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member Assembly. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is trailing significantly and is currently ahead in less than 100 seats.

The election marks a direct contest between the BJP and TMC, with Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition and former Trinamool leader, emerging as a key challenger. The Congress and Left Front are also in the fray, though their presence remains limited in early trends.

In the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, Mamata Banerjee is engaged in a closely watched contest against Suvendu Adhikari. The seat has witnessed a fluctuating lead, with both candidates trading positions during successive rounds of counting. As per the latest update, Banerjee is slightly ahead after trailing earlier.

West Bengal went to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with repolling held in select booths including the Falta constituency. This election is particularly significant as it comes after a controversial voter list revision exercise.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress had secured a decisive victory with 215 seats, while the BJP won 77 seats, becoming the principal opposition. Congress and Left parties had failed to open their account then.

Current trends also indicate BJP making inroads into traditional TMC strongholds such as Diamond Harbour and Barrackpur. Meanwhile, isolated leads for Left candidates and new entrants like Humayun Kabir have added minor twists to the contest.

As counting continues, the political landscape of West Bengal appears to be undergoing a significant shift, with the BJP poised for a potential breakthrough in the state.