West Bengal Assembly Election Results to Be Counted Starting at 8 AM on Monday

The anticipation surrounding the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections is set to culminate on Monday, as vote counting will commence at 8 AM. This crucial electoral process follows two phases of polling that took place on April 23 and April 29, achieving a remarkable provisional voter turnout of 92.4%. As the counting day approaches, various exit polls have emerged, yielding divergent predictions about the outcome. While some suggest continuity for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), others indicate a potential surge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In response to the exit polls, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her skepticism, labeling the forecasts as “fabricated” and intended to undermine the morale of her party’s supporters. The stakes are substantial, with a total of 294 seats in the Assembly and a majority requiring 148 seats. However, it is noteworthy that the counting will only encompass 293 constituencies on Monday, as the Election Commission has mandated a repolling in the Falta Assembly seat due to reports of “severe electoral offences.” This repolling is scheduled for May 21, with votes from this constituency to be counted on May 24.

Additionally, in a prelude to the main counting event, repolling took place on Saturday in 15 booths across the Diamond Harbour and Magrahat constituencies, following observations from election officials regarding certain “material circumstances.” This highlights the ongoing challenges faced in conducting fair elections in the region.

The TMC, led by Banerjee, has held power in West Bengal since 2011, navigating through a political landscape that has seen the main opposition shift from the Left Front to the BJP over the years. In the previous election in 2021, the TMC secured 215 seats compared to the BJP’s 77, showcasing a substantial majority. As the counting unfolds, the eyes of the nation will be on West Bengal, where the political future will be decided in the coming hours.

Source: scroll.in