A dramatic political shift has come to the fore in West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to form its first-ever government in the state since Independence, according to the counting trends from the election results. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee, appears headed for a decisive defeat after being in power for 15 years.

The countings project a turning point in Bengal’s political landscape, particularly as it follows a contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, which saw a record high deletions.

Fierce face-off between BJP and TMC

Notably, this election saw a fierce face-off between the BJP and the TMC, with Suvendu Adhikari, a former aide of Banerjee, turned Leader of Opposition (LoP) emerging as a central figure. The contest also saw participation from the Congress and the Left front, though their presence remained marginal.

The state went into the polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026, and repolling was ordered in select booths, including the Falta constituency.

What is the Assembly arithmetic?

The 294-member Assembly requires a majority of 148 seats to form a government. Back in 2021, the TMC secured an emphatic 215 seats, while BJP rose sharply with 77, cementing itself as the principal opposition.

However, the early trends in 2026 polls suggest a reversal of fortunes. The BJP, according to statistics, is leading in over 190 seats, comfortably surpassing the majority threshold, while the TMC has been reduced to double digits. The Left and its allies are ahead in only a few constituencies.

Adhikari leading by 7k votes

Nandigram, the high-profile constituency, drew eyeballs, as Suvendu Adhikari led by over 7,000 votes. Meanwhile, Banerjee’s stronghold Bhabanipur remained under close scrutiny as counting advanced.

The BJP has immersed itself into celebrations in reaction to the trends. Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Samrat Choudhary hailed the mandate as historic, crediting the general public of Bengal for ‘awareness and patriotism.’ Celebrations have already begun at the BJP Headquarters in New Delhi, where party workers have begun distributing traditional sweets like ‘Mishti Doi,’ anticipating a landmark win.