After the initial hour of vote counting in the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections, a close competition is evident between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). At 9 a.m., results for 134 out of 293 Assembly constituencies showed the BJP slightly ahead with 73 seats, while Trinamool Congress followed with 59. Congress led in two seats, while the CPI(M)-led Left Front had no lead.
The Trinamool Congress is leading in Assembly seats primarily in South Bengal districts, whereas BJP candidates are ahead in North Bengal districts and some South Bengal areas. Notably, BJP candidates are leading in several seats in the minority-dominated Malda district. The trend for the high-profile Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, featuring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, was not available by 9 a.m.
Suvendu Adhikari is leading in his native Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is contesting alongside Bhabanipur. The two Congress-led seats in Malda district are being led by former Congress and Trinamool Congress member Mausam Benazir Noor in Malatipur Assembly constituency. Notable BJP leaders in the lead include Dilip Gosh in Kharagpur (Sadar) Assembly constituency and journalist-turned-politician Jagannath Chattopadhyay.
The counting process will involve a minimum of ten and a maximum of 26 rounds based on the number of voters in each constituency.
