In a historic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form its first-ever government in West Bengal, bringing an end to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule that lasted 15 years. Before the TMC era, the state had been governed by the Left Front for nearly 34 years from 1977 to 2011.
As counting trends on Monday indicated a decisive BJP victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, celebrations erupted across the state. Party workers gathered at counting centres and local offices, marking the moment with drums, dancing, sweets, and vibrant displays of aabir (gulal).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media X, "The Lotus Blooms in West Bengal! The 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election will remain unforgettable. The power of the people and the BJP's politics of good governance have emerged victorious. I bow to every person in West Bengal.
"The people have given the BJP an unprecedented mandate, and I assure them that our party will do everything possible to fulfill the dreams and hopes-aspirations of the people of West Bengal. We will build a government that ensures opportunities and dignity for people from all sections of society."
In Bhabanipur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continues to lead, but her margin has narrowed sharply as counting progresses. According to Election Commission data, 14 of the 20 rounds have been completed, with her lead reduced to just 3,830 votes. In the initial rounds, her lead had exceeded 17,000 votes, but it has since declined substantially.
As per the latest update from the Election Commission, the BJP’s tally has surged dramatically, with the party now winning or leading in 205 seats. In contrast, the TMC has been reduced to just 82 seats. The Congress and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party are ahead in two seats each, while the CPM and the All India Secular Front are leading in one seat apiece.
At the BJP’s Kolkata office on Murlidhar Sen Lane, supporters celebrated with jhaalmuri, recalling a widely discussed campaign moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped to enjoy the snack during a rally in Jhargram. The episode had sparked a political exchange, with Mamata Banerjee dismissing it as staged, while Modi responded with a sharp retort that resonated with supporters.
Party insiders attributed part of the success to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which aimed to ensure that only “genuine voters” were included. The exercise reportedly led to the removal of over 27 lakh names due to “logical discrepancies.” BJP leaders framed this as a move to cleanse the electoral system of alleged irregularities.
Another key factor behind the party’s surge was its outreach to women voters. Buoyed by the NDA government’s push for women’s reservation in legislatures, party leaders said the narrative of empowering women struck a strong chord across the state. With women voters numbering over 3.16 crore out of a total electorate of 6.44 crore, the party estimates a swing of up to five percent in its favour among female voters.
Anti-incumbency sentiment also played a significant role. Issues such as alleged denial of rights to government employees, dissatisfaction over pay structures, and the demand for implementing the Seventh Pay Commission resonated with a broad voter base, including government staff and job aspirants. During the “Poribortan Yatra,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised swift implementation of the pay commission and filling of vacancies within 45 days of forming the government.