AJUP founder Humayun Kabir has offered Mamata Banerjee a route back to the West Bengal Assembly from his Rejinagar constituency. Kabir, who won both Nowda and Rejinagar seats, stated he would vacate Rejinagar to support Banerjee's by-election bid, citing her role in his political rise.
The West Bengal assembly speaker's decision will be crucial in determining the 'original party' in the Trinamool Congress crisis, following a faction claiming support of 58 MLAs. The Supreme Court has ruled that in such splits, neither faction can claim to be the original party, and the speaker must consider the party's constitution submitted to the Election Commission before the split.
TMC dissolved all its committees and frontal organizations in West Bengal after rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee met the governor with support from nearly 60 MLAs, signaling a major party crisis. This move is seen as an attempt to prevent a vertical split following the party's electoral defeat.
The Trinamool Congress has accused the West Bengal Assembly of failing to allot a room to the Leader of the Opposition, with party MLAs staging a protest in the assembly lobby. The TMC has warned of further action if the delay persists.
The SIR of electoral rolls became one of the most fiercely debated issues in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with the exercise significantly reshaping the state’s voter base before polling. Nearly 91 lakh names, around 12 per cent of the electorate, were removed during the revision process. Of these, more than 60 lakh voters were marked as deceased, while nearly 27 lakh cases remained pending or under scrutiny.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, suggesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls may have influenced the BJP's victory. He highlighted the removal of 91 lakh names, with 34 lakh appeals pending adjudication, questioning the fairness of the process given the BJP's 30 lakh vote margin.
Suvendu Adhikari comes from one of the state’s most influential political families. His father, Sisir Adhikari, served both in the West Bengal Assembly and the Lok Sabha, while his brother Dibyendu Adhikari was earlier a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP before joining the BJP in 2024. Suvendu began his political journey with the Congress during the 1995 municipal polls before moving to the newly formed TMC alongside his father in 1998. He rose rapidly within Mamata Banerjee’s party and became one of its strongest organisational faces in coastal Bengal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party on Monday wrested control of the state of West Bengal, an opposition stronghold, in a key election. The Election Commission of India released partial results showing the Bharatiya Janata Party won at least 124 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly, and was leading in 83 others. Final results are expected on Monday evening. It would be a significant breakthrough for Modi’s party, which had tried for years to dislodge the...
BJP workers celebrated their lead in West Bengal Assembly elections with traditional Bengali meals and sweets like fish curry, rosogolla, and jhalmuri. Similar food-based celebrations, including litti chokha and jalebi, were observed in past elections in Bihar and Haryana, highlighting food's role in political victories.
Trinamool Congress has 92 candidates currently leading in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections across numerous constituencies. The list includes prominent leaders like Mamata Banerjee leading from Bhabanipur, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay from Ballygunge, and Firhad Hakim from Kolkata Port. The party aims for a strong showing across the state with candidates distributed across various districts.
Counting for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election begins on May 4, 2026 across 77 centres, with the state recording a historic 92.93% voter turnout. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur, while Nandigram is seen as a referendum on BJP's influence in coastal Bengal. Ten key constituencies are being watched, including Diamond Harbour where a repoll was conducted on May 2 after EVM tampering complaints.
The Trinamool Congress staged a protest in Kolkata, alleging EVM tampering and procedural lapses in strongrooms before the West Bengal assembly polls. The party accused the BJP and Election Commission of collusion, while the EC asserted the strongrooms were secure and footage showed routine postal ballot segregation.
West Bengal recorded a historic 92.9% voter turnout across all 294 seats in the 2026 assembly election, the highest since Independence. The second phase saw 92.6% turnout in 142 constituencies, with 6.3 crore votes cast compared to 5.9 crore in 2021. Kolkata recorded an unprecedented 88.4% turnout, a jump of over 28% from 2021. Women voted at 93.2% and men at 91.7%. The Election Commission attributed the record turnout to deletion of non-existent voters, enhanced security measures, and polling booths in high-rises.
Multiple exit polls released Wednesday projected the BJP ahead in the fiercely contested 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, with Chanakya Strategies estimating 150-160 seats and Matrize projecting 146-161 seats for the BJP — both above the majority mark of 148. The TMC was projected at 99-140 seats depending on the poll. Voting concluded for all 294 seats with approximately 90% turnout, and final results will be declared on May 4.
Exit polls for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections indicate a close contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with most surveys projecting a BJP advantage. The final phase recorded around 90% turnout across 142 constituencies. Counting will take place on May 4.
The second phase of West Bengal's assembly elections saw clashes between BJP and TMC workers in Khanakul and Nadia. Despite reports of violence, intimidation, and injuries to a BJP agent, voting continued across the 142 constituencies with an 18.39 percent turnout by 9 am.
Exit polls for the 2026 Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled for release tonight after 6:30 pm. These projections follow a high-stakes campaign period, with official vote counting set for May 4.
Mamata Banerjee, TMC supremo and candidate from Bhabanipur, accused the BJP of attempting to forcefully rig the West Bengal assembly elections as voting began in the second and final phase across 142 constituencies. Over 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations under tight security. Banerjee alleged central forces and poll observers were interfering at the BJP's behest, while BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari accused her of bringing a large entourage to intimidate voters. Voting continues till 6pm with results due on May 4.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, contesting from Bhabanipur, accused the BJP of attempting to forcefully rig the West Bengal assembly elections during the crucial second phase voting across 142 constituencies. Banerjee alleged widespread interference by central forces, claiming CRPF personnel vandalized a TMC councillor's home and that officials brought from outside were acting at the BJP's behest. Over 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations, with results due on May 4.
Second phase of West Bengal assembly elections witnessed violence and vandalism with allegations of voter intimidation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused BJP observers of interfering in polling in her Bhabanipur constituency, where she faces Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. A BJP polling agent was allegedly assaulted in Chapra, a BJP camp office was vandalised in Shantipur, and voting was delayed in Nimtala. Police issued warnings to Mamata's brother Kartik Banerjee and TMC workers for gathering near a polling booth.
Voting for the final phase of West Bengal Assembly Elections began in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. BJP's Panihati candidate Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, flagged a potential issue with an EVM button while casting her vote, stating she would inform election officials. She thanked early voters and urged others to participate, expressing hope for justice in this high-profile contest. Over 3.22 crore voters are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations.
Voting is underway for the second and final phase of West Bengal Assembly elections across 142 constituencies in six districts and Kolkata. Over 3.21 crore registered voters, including 1,644 women and 792 third gender voters, are eligible to cast their votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged particularly women and youth to participate in large numbers to strengthen democracy. Security arrangements include 2,407 companies of central forces along with state police, with webcasting at all 41,001 polling stations. Results will be announced on May 4.
West Bengal heads to the second and final phase of assembly polls on Wednesday with 142 constituencies across eight districts going to vote. Over 32 million voters are expected to participate in this phase covering Kolkata North, Kolkata South, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Nadia and Howrah. Outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and outgoing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari are among the high-profile candidates in the fray. Around 2,500 companies of central police forces and motorbike quick response teams have been deployed for security.
Women voters are outnumbering men in 23 assembly segments during the second phase of West Bengal's elections, particularly in urban areas like Jadavpur and Bidhannagar, continuing a trend observed in the first phase.
