Kolkata: As early counting trends for the West Bengal Assembly elections emerged on Monday, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reflecting the intensity of a race where the BJP appeared to be establishing a commanding lead.
“I thank the people of West Bengal. Goons will go to jail. Mamata ruined Bengal’s traditions. People responded to Mamata,” Adhikari stated as early trends suggested a significant political shift in the state.
According to the latest Election Commission updates, the BJP was leading in 173 of the 294 Assembly constituencies, while the TMC was ahead in 85.
The BJP’s impressive performance unfolded despite Adhikari trailing by 16,706 votes against Banerjee in the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, a contest that has remained one of the most closely scrutinized battles of the election.
Adhikari, however, continued to be ahead in Nandigram, the politically charged constituency that has long been at the heart of Bengal’s electoral battles in recent years.
These trends indicate a potential turning point in the state’s political trajectory following more than a decade of TMC governance, with the BJP making widespread gains across several districts amid a campaign defined by allegations of corruption, governance challenges, and prevailing anti-incumbency sentiment.
As the counting process continues, state authorities have maintained a heavy security presence, with officials placing ban on victory processions and public celebrations in Kolkata in order to prevent possible post-result violence.
