The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gaining seats in West Bengal’s Presidency area while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) sees a decline from 2021 [1].
This shift in the Kolkata region suggests a changing political landscape in one of India's most contested states. A decline for the TMC in the Presidency area could signal a broader erosion of the party's stronghold in urban centers.
Vote counting for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election took place in April 2026 [1, 4]. Early trends indicate a movement of voter preference toward the BJP in the Presidency region compared with the results of the 2021 election [1].
In the Bhabanipur constituency, a tight contest has emerged between the BJP and the TMC. Reports indicate that 20 rounds [2] of vote counting have been processed in this area, with the BJP candidate maintaining a lead over the chief minister [2].
Exit polls previously projected the BJP would secure between 150 and 175 seats [3] across West Bengal. While final tallies are pending, the current gains in the Presidency area align with those early projections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) has raised concerns regarding the electoral process. "The BJP, with support from the Election Commission, tried to cancel my candidature," Banerjee said [4].
The Presidency area remains a focal point for the final results as the BJP and TMC continue a tight contest for dominance in the state [3].
“The BJP is gaining seats in West Bengal’s Presidency area while the TMC sees a decline from 2021.”
The shift in the Presidency area indicates a potential breach in the TMC's urban support base. If the BJP can maintain these gains in Kolkata and surrounding regions, it may challenge the TMC's ability to form a majority government, reflecting a volatile swing in voter sentiment since the 2021 cycle.
