The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in more than 170 seats during the live counting of the West Bengal Assembly Election on May 4, 2026 [1].
This result signals a potential shift in power in one of India's most politically volatile states, challenging the long-standing incumbency of the Trinamool Congress.
Reports from the counting process indicated the BJP was leading in more than 170 seats [1], with some updates suggesting the party was nearing 200 seats [2]. These figures represent a significant challenge to the administration of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), who is currently fighting a close contest in the Bhabanipur constituency in Kolkata [1].
The election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has been marked by high tensions between the incumbent Trinamool Congress and the BJP [3]. While the BJP maintains a strong lead across the state, the outcome in Bhabanipur remains uncertain as the counting continues [1].
Other key battles include the contest in Nandigram involving BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari [4]. The overall atmosphere of the 2026 election has been characterized by a fierce face-off between the two primary parties, with candidates often clashing over wealth, and political influence [3].
The counting process, which began on May 4, 2026 [1], is determining the composition of the state government for the next term. The BJP's projected lead of 170 to 200 seats [1, 2] would place them in a strong position to form the government, provided the final tally holds.
“BJP led in more than 170 seats during the live counting of the West Bengal Assembly Election.”
A BJP victory with 170 to 200 seats would end the Trinamool Congress's tenure in West Bengal, marking a major strategic win for the BJP in eastern India. The close contest in Bhabanipur is particularly critical, as the personal defeat of a sitting Chief Minister could further destabilize the incumbent party's leadership and influence the political trajectory of the region.
