The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election counting is currently underway, and early trends show an exceptionally tight race between the state’s primary rivals.
As of the latest morning updates, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading on 85 seats, while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is closely trailing with leads on 72 seats.
These figures predominantly represent postal ballots and the initial rounds of EVM counting, meaning the landscape is likely to shift as data from more rounds flows in.
In a stunning early development from the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is reportedly trailing behind her challenger. The BJP has intensified its focus on this seat, with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari aiming to replicate his 2021 victory over the TMC supremo.
This election follows a historic 92.47% voter turnout, the highest since Independence, and comes amid significant political friction over the recent deletion of nearly 90 lakh names from the voter rolls during a special revision exercise.
With 148 seats required for a simple majority in the 294-member House, neither party has yet reached the halfway mark in trends. While the BJP is showing strength in its traditional North Bengal strongholds, the TMC is maintaining its grip on parts of Kolkata and South 24 Parganas.
Meanwhile, the Left-Congress alliance is fighting to regain its presence in the Assembly after being completely wiped out in the previous election cycle. Counting is currently proceeding at 77 centers under a multi-layered security blanket to prevent any potential outbreaks of violence.