West Bengal Elections: BJP Takes Early Lead Over Trinamool Congress

Tight Race in West Bengal Assembly Elections

Kolkata: In the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress is facing a fierce challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has taken a slight lead after the initial hours of vote counting.

By 10 a.m., results for 176 out of 293 constituencies had been reported.

The BJP was leading in 90 seats, while the Trinamool Congress followed closely with 82 seats. Candidates from Congress and CPI-M were ahead in two seats each.

The Congress candidates leading are from Malatipur and Mothabarii, both located in the minority-heavy Malda district. Mausam Benazir Noor, a former Congress MP and ex-Trinamool Congress member, is currently leading in Malatipur.

In Murshidabad, CPI-M candidates are in the lead in the Jalangi and Domkal constituencies, which also have significant minority populations.

Key BJP figures currently leading include Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition from Nandigram, Dilip Ghosh, the former national Vice President, Agnimitra Paul from Asansol, and journalist-turned-politician Swapan Dasgupta.

Some members of the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, including Dr. Sashi Panja, the Minister for Women & Child Development, are trailing in their respective constituencies.

As of 10 a.m., results for the Bhabanipur constituency in South Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Adhikari, were still pending.

The counting process will involve a minimum of ten rounds and could extend to a maximum of 26 rounds.