The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, potentially unseating the Trinamool Congress (TMC) [1].
This shift represents a historic change in the state's political landscape. If the trends hold, the BJP would form the first government of its kind in West Bengal, ending the long-term dominance of the TMC.
Early trends show the BJP leading past the 148-seat halfway mark [1]. Exit poll analysts further project that the BJP will win between 150 and 175 seats [3]. These figures suggest a significant swing in voter support away from the incumbent administration.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) has been in power for 15 years [1]. She has rejected the exit poll findings and predicts a different outcome for her party. "We will win at least 226 seats," Banerjee said [4].
The BJP has dismissed the Chief Minister's optimism. A BJP spokesperson said, "Your game has ended" [4]. The tension between the two parties underscores the high stakes of this election, as a TMC victory would have marked a fourth consecutive term for Banerjee [1].
The current results follow the completion of the second phase of voting. While the BJP maintains a lead in early counts, the final tally will determine if the state undergoes a total change in leadership for the first time in over a decade.
“BJP to win 150-175 seats.”
A victory for the BJP would signal a major realignment of power in West Bengal, breaking a 15-year hold by the TMC. The stark contrast between the BJP's projected seat count and Mamata Banerjee's own predictions indicates a volatile political atmosphere where the final results will either validate a historic shift or cement the TMC's long-term grip on the state.
