West BengalMamata’s Trinamool leads in 33 seats, BJP in 8

As vote counting began in India on Tuesday morning for its general elections, the Trinamool Congress was leading in 33 seats and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eight.

This lead potentially defies the “400 seats” target of the BJP.

The voting, conducted in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, witnessed intense campaigning and a high voter turnout of 78% in the state.

Exit polls in the 2024 general elections in West Bengal suggested that the BJP would win 26 to 31 seats out of a total of 42, being the single-largest party in the state for the first time ever.

Mamata Banerjee, the founder of Trinamool and the current chief minister of West Bengal, called the exit poll results fake.

As the counting of votes commenced nationwide, West Bengal stood as a crucial battleground, with key constituencies drawing attention.

Voting in the state was marred by reports of violence and attempts to manipulate the polls. Multiple incidents were recorded during the voting days, reflecting the intensity of the political contest and the challenges faced in ensuring a free and fair electoral process.

As the nation awaits the official results, the outcome in West Bengal is poised to have significant implications for the state’s political trajectory and its representation.

In the previous general elections in 2019, the BJP secured 18 seats in West Bengal, trailing behind the ruling Trinamool which won 22 out of 42 seats.