The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to establish the new government in West Bengal with a significant two-thirds majority, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress in the state. In the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, the crucial two-thirds majority mark is set at 196.
Following the completion of counting and result declarations for 293 Assembly constituencies, the BJP secured 206 seats, surpassing the Trinamool Congress, which obtained 81 seats. The Congress, CPI(M), All India Secular Front (AISF), and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) secured two, one, one, and two seats, respectively.
With a notable 46% share of the total votes polled, the BJP emerged as the leading party, followed by the Trinamool Congress at 41%. The Left Front led by CPI(M) garnered 4%, while the Congress and other parties like AISF and AJUP collectively obtained 6%.
In a significant turn of events, the Trinamool Congress faced defeat in ten districts where its candidates failed to secure any Assembly constituencies. Additionally, the party suffered losses in tribal- and Matua-dominated constituencies across the state.
Several prominent members of the Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet, including the Chief Minister herself, experienced defeats in their respective Assembly constituencies. Notable losses included Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Shashi Panja, and Education Minister Bratya Basu, among others.
Three journalist-turned politicians emerged victorious as BJP candidates, including Swapan Dasgupta, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, and Santu Pan. However, Trinamool Congress’ prospective finance ministerial candidate, Devdeep Purohit, faced defeat in the Khardah Assembly constituency.
A significant win for the BJP was seen in the Panihati Assembly constituency, where Swapna Debnath, the mother of a junior doctor who was a victim of a tragic incident in 2024, emerged victorious.
