BJPs Krishnendu Mukherjee Triumphs in Asansol North Assembly Seat
New Delhi, May 5: The election results for the Asansol North Assembly seat in the Paschim Bardhaman district have been announced. BJP candidate Krishnendu Mukherjee has emerged victorious, defeating senior TMC leader and former state minister Malay Ghatak. Mukherjee secured 104,516 votes, while Ghatak received 92,901 votes. The CPI candidate Akhilesh Kumar Singh finished third, ... Read more BJPs Krishnendu Mukherjee Triumphs in Asansol North Assembly Seat
Kolkata, May 4:In a mandate as sweeping as it is symbolic, the BJP on Monday scripted history by winning 202 seats to secure more than a two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the TMCs 15-year rule, and decisively shifting the states ideological and political centre of gravity. The verdict acquired added political drama and symbolic heft as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was defeated in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat by BJPs Suvendu Adhikari, capping a stunning turnaround after initial trends appeared to favour the TMC supremo. What began as tentative early leads soon hardened into a decisive wave, with the BJP winning 202 seats and leading in five, while the TMC trailed far behind, managing to win 73 and leading in eight seats, according to Election Commission data at 11.10pm. The scale, spread and speed of the BJP surge -breaching the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member House well before counting reached its midpoint- pointed not merely to a change of guard but to a structural realignment in Bengal politics. For the first time since 1972, West Bengal appears set to be governed by a party that is also in power at the Centre -a shift with deep administrative and political implications. The result also marked the BJPs decisive breach of its last major eastern bastion, completing its saffron arc across 'Anga, Banga and Kalinga' (Bihar, Bengal and Odisha) and significantly altering the national political balance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mandate, saying the Lotus blooms in West Bengal and that the party would work to fulfil the aspirations of the people. At the heart of the BJPs campaign was Modi himself, whose high-voltage rallies and direct voter connect made him the central face of the partys push in Bengal, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah functioned as the chief strategist -stitching together booth-level networks, candidate selection and social coalitions. The partys rise in Bengal has been neither sudden nor accidental. Since its 2019 Lok Sabha breakthrough, the BJP has treated the state not merely as another electoral target but as a political and ideological challenge. From a marginal vote share of around four per cent in 2011, the BJP surged to nearly 40 per cent in 2019 and then secured 77 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections, displacing the Left and Congress as the principal challenger to the TMC. Yet, converting that expansion into power had remained elusive until now. As counting progressed through the day, early leads consolidated into a near sweep. The BJPs advance cut across geographies -from north Bengal to Junglemahal to south Bengal, from border districts to industrial belt- indicating a statewide wave rather than region-specific gains. Seats such as Dinhata, Gosaba, Baghmundi, Bankura, Binpur and Nayagram pointed to deep inroads in tribal and rural belts, while gains in Asansol Dakshin, Durgapur Purba and other urban pockets reflected consolidation in industrial and semi-urban regions. Early wins in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Monteswar, Bhatar, Medinipur and Asansol Dakshin reinforced the breadth of the surge. In contrast, the TMCs resistance appeared fragmented. District-level patterns pointed to a sharp erosion, with the TMC struggling to hold ground in several regions of north Bengal and Junglemahal. The vote share data underscored the depth of the shift. The BJPs vote share climbed to around 45 per cent from 38 per cent in 2021, while the TMCs dropped to nearly 40.94 per cent from 48 percent. A key point lay in the 177 constituencies where voter deletions had exceeded past victory margins -a latent factor that appears to have translated into a decisive political shift. In these seats, the BJP not only retained its earlier gains but also made significant inroads into TMC-held territories, suggesting a deeper realignment rather than a mere swing. The scale of the setback was also reflected in the fortunes of senior TMC leaders. At least 20 ministers were defeated, including Bratya Basu, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, Shashi Panja and Chandrima Bhattacharya. In Sabang, Bhunia, a multi-term winner, lost, while in Dinhata, Udayan Guha was defeated. In Kolkata, BJPs Purnima Chakraborty defeated state industry minister Shashi Panja, pointing to cracks even in urban bastions. For a party that had built its dominance on welfare delivery, centralised authority and booth-level control, the erosion appeared simultaneous across organisational layers. In a dramatic, high-stakes contest that mirrored the political theatre of Nandigram five years ago, Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by 15,105 votes after all 20 rounds of counting, according to Election Commission data. I thank the people of Bhabanipur for voting for me and ensuring a margin of over 15,000 votes, Adhikari said after securing victory and collecting his winning certificate. The outcome was a replay of the 2021 Nandigram election, where Adhikari had unseated Banerjee in a fiercely fought battle that reshaped Bengals political narrative. Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee and a key architect of the TMCs rise in districts like East Midnapore, now emerges as a frontrunner in discussions over the chief ministerial face of the BJP government. Other names, including state president Samik Bhattacharya, Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and Swapan Dasgupta, are also doing the rounds. The verdict represents a watershed moment for the BJP. From a marginal presence in Bengal in the late 1990s -aided initially by its alliance with the TMC -the party has now completed a steady climb to power and dismantled the very party that once facilitated its entry in the state, three decades ago. Politically, the Monday poll verdict reinforced the BJPs ability to dislodge entrenched regional forces. However, the mandate also brings challenges governing a politically polarised state, managing local leadership equations, and delivering on promises related to development, law and order and administrative reform. For the TMC, the verdict signals a structural rupture. After 15 years in power, the party faces the difficult transition from a dominant ruling force to an opposition formation, with anti-incumbency, corruption allegations, governance fatigue and organisational centralisation converging into a decisive setback. West Bengal, long defined by extended phases of single-party dominance, now appears to be entering a more competitive, bipolar political phase. For the BJP, Bengal is no longer a frontier; it is a governance test. For the TMC, the battle shifts from retaining power to reclaiming relevance. And for Bengal, the moment marks not just a change in government, but a reordering of its political landscape. NDA set to form Govt in Assam for 3rd straight term The ruling NDA is set to form the government in Assam for the third consecutive term after securing a two-thirds majority, with a record high of 102 seats in the 126-member assembly, while the Congress-led Opposition delivered its worst performance in recent times on Monday. The BJP, which contested 90 seats, won 82, while its allies -- the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), which contested 11 seats, and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which fought in 26 seats -- bagged 10 constituencies each. The saffron party secured a majority on its own for the first time in the state. It had won 60 seats in the previous two polls in 2021 and 2016. In the Opposition camp, the Congress, which contested 99 seats, won 19 constituencies, while the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal secured two seats each, and the Trinamool Congress bagged one constituency. Raijor Dal, an opposition alliance partner, had contested 13 seats, while the other parties in the camp -- Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M) and APHLC -- drew a blank. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma won the Jalukbari constituency for the sixth consecutive term, defeating Congress candidate Bidisha Neog by 89,434 votes. In a major blow to the Congress, its state president Gaurav Gogoi lost in Jorhat to veteran politician and sitting BJP MLA Hitendranath Goswami by 23,181 votes. Among the prominent BJP winners are ministers Ajanta Neog (Golaghat), Ranoj Pegu (Dhemaji), Pijush Hazarika (Jagiroad), Ashok Singhal (Dhekiajuli), Kaushik Rai (Lakhipur), Prashanta Phukan (Dibrugarh), Krishnendu Paul (Patharkandi) and Bimal Borah (Tingkhong). Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary won from Tamulpur constituency by defeating former BTC chief Pramod Boro of the UPPL. Sitting BJP MLAs Mrinal Saikia (Khumtai), Bhuban Pegu (Jonai), Rama Kanta Dewri (Morigaon), Rupak Sarmah (Nagaon-Batadraba), Paramanda Rajbongshi (Sipajhar), Utpal Borah (Gohpur), Biswajit Phukan (Sarupathar), Binod Hazarika (Chabua-Lahowal), Taranga Gogoi (Naharkatia), Bhaskar Sharma (Margherita), Rupjyoti Kurmi (Mariani) and Bhuban Gam (Majuli) also emerged victorious. AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta retained their Bokakhat and Kaliabor constituencies, respectively, while first-timer Tapan Das won the Dimoria seat. Among the BPF candidates, cabinet minister Charan Boro retained his Mazbat constituency while the others who won are Maneswar Brahma (Baksa), Paniram Brahma (Sidli-Chirang), Thaneswar Basumatary (Manas), Rihon Daimary (Udalguri) and BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary's wife Sewli Mohilary from Kokrajhar. Prominent Congress candidates who won the polls are sitting MLAs Wajed Ali Choudhury (Birsing Jarua), Jakir Hussain Sikdar (Pakabetbari), Rekibuddin Ahmed (Chamaria) and Nurul Huda (Rupahihat). Other winners from the party include Aminul Haque Laskar (Sonai), Joy Prakash Das (Nowboicha), Tanzil Hussain (Samaguri), Asif Mohammad Nazar (Laharighat) and Aftabuddin Mollah (Jaleswar). AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal won from Binnakandi and his party member Mazibur Rahman from Dalgaon. Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi retained the Sibsagar seat, while another party member Mehboob Muktar won the Dhing seat and Trinamool Congress' Sherman Ali Ahmed won from Mandia. Among the prominent candidates who lost the polls are Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly, Debabrata Saikia, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Saikia, and former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Ripun Bora. Among the 59 women who contested the polls, only six could manage to win, with four from the BJP, and one each from its allies AGP and BPF, while only one won from Congress. Polling in all 126 assembly constituencies in the state was held in a single phase on April 9 with 722 candidates in fray. UDF sweeps to power in Kerela Lotus blooms in 3 seats Kerala on Monday witnessed a sharp political reset as the state electors voted out the last Left government in the country, bringing back the Congress to the ruling saddle after a gap of 10 years, while the BJP broke through a long-standing electoral drought by winning three seats. The Congress-led UDF swept aside a decade of Left rule under Pinarayi Vijayan with a decisive Assembly victory, with the national party adding the third southern state to be ruled by it, in its kitty. The party is in power in Karnataka and Telangana. While Congress' vote share stood at 28.79 per cent, that of CPI (M) was 21.77 per cent. Congress ally IUML had a voteshare of 11.01 per cent. Apart from strong anti-incumbency against the government, the results of the April 9 polls also indicated a consolidation of support across sections of society in favour of the United Democratic Front, which had been in opposition to the Left dispensation for the past decade. The UDF won 102 seats, while the CPI(M)-headed LDF netted 35 seats, according to Election Commission data on counting of votes for 140 constituencies. The outcome also marked the absence of the Left from governance in any Indian state for the first time in five decades. The ire against the government was so strong that 13 ministers in the cabinet suffered defeat in the political tsunami unleashed by the UDF. Not only the Congress, but its key allies, including the IUML, the Kerala Congress also secured massive victory in the polls, which saw the complete erasure of the LDF in some key districts. At the same time, the LDF partners, including the CPI(M), lost many seats, while a key partner, Kerala Congress (M), was reduced to zero in a humiliating outcome in the polls. Top contenders for the Chief Minister's post, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, won their seats with comfortable margins, setting the stage for the next step in discussions on the post. Of the 21 cabinet members, only Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, P A Mohamed Riyas, K Rajan, G R Anil, K N Balagopal, P Prasad, and Saji Cherian emerged victorious. The ministers who lost the election included Veena George, M B Rajesh, O R Kelu, R Bindhu, J Chinchurani, P Rajeev, K B Ganesh Kumar, V N Vasavan, V Sivankutty, V Abdurahiman, Kadannappally Ramachandran A K Saseendran and Roshy Augustine. LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan also lost his sitting seat of Perambra in Kozhikode district. The BJP's bid to make strong inroads in Kerala dominated by UDF and LDF got a slight push with the party winning three seats-- Nemom and Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram district and Chathannoor in Kollam. BJP candidate from Chathannoor, B B Gopakumar, won by 4,398 votes. In Nemom, party state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar triumphed with a margin of over 3,000 votes, while former Union Minister V Muraleedharan won Kazhakoottam with a narrow margin. Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming support and vowed to work diligently towards building a better future for them. In a post on X, Vadra said, To all my brothers and sisters in Keralam, thank you for your faith and for your overwhelming support. The trust you have placed in us will be the UDF's guiding force as we work hard towards building a better future for each one of you. I sincerely hope that our gratitude to you will be evident each day of the next five years as we strive to fulfil our commitments to you with honesty and humility, she added. Reacting to the outcome, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said the UDF's sweeping victory was a clear verdict against the arrogance, corruption, and nepotism of the CPI(M)-led government headed by CM Vijayan. Addressing a press conference, Venugopal said the outcome reflected public anger against what he termed 10 years of misrule by the Left government. He claimed that Vijayan's victory in his home constituency, Dharmadam, was only technical, alleging that the CM trailed the UDF candidate in the initial rounds of counting and failed to secure a majority in his own village. He just escaped. He suffered a setback even in his home turf. He was the only person who did not realise the people's mood in this election, Venugopal claimed. In a major political upset for the CPI(M), leaders who had revolted against the party just ahead of the polls and joined the UDF camp, including veteran leader G Sudhakaran, P V Kunhikrishnan and T K Govindan, breached the Left strongholds of Ambalappuzha, Payyannur and Taliparamba seats. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said the LDF would examine the reasons behind its defeat and take corrective measures. Speaking to reporters, Govindan said every aspect that led to the defeat would be analysed. He thanked LDF workers and the people who voted for the front. The LDF will evaluate and study the defeat, after which required corrections will be made. We expect the support of the people for it, he said. On defeats in traditional party strongholds, Govindan said the LDF had suffered a major setback across Kerala. We will carry out effective organisational work to correct the issues that led to the defeat, he said. BJP leader Chandrasekhar told reporters that as contended by him from the beginning his was an anti-CPI(M) election as the people were fed up with their corruption and alleged misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala. Chandrasekhar said that right from the start of the election campaign, both the Congress and CPI(M) said that BJP will not get even one seat. He also said that he knew right from the beginning that the CPI(M) will not win this time, no matter what it does. Meanwhile, the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly will have 11 women MLAs, one less than in the previous House. The outgoing Assembly had 12 women legislators, a majority of them from the CPI(M). Vijay's TVK emerges giant slayer in Tamil Nadu Actor-politician Vijay's TVK on Monday created a record of sorts in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu and emerged as the single largest party by delivering a shock defeat to incumbent DMK and its president, Chief Minister MK Stalin in his Kolathur constituency, while the AIADMK was pushed to a distant third spot. This was the first time since 1967, when the first non-Congress government (DMK) came to power in the state, that a party other than the two Dravidian heavyweights emerged victorious in the hustings. Vijay and TVK have many firsts to their credit and the the party founder will be the first person from a minority religion -Christianity- to helm the state. While Vijay won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies, his party has netted 89 seats and was leading in 18 more and is on course to become the single largest party in the 234-member House. Elections were held on April 23 and the counting of votes done on Monday. Perhaps the biggest shock was CM Stalin being defeated by a margin of 8,795 votes in his Kolathur constituency by little known V S Babu, who was formerly with the DMK and an ex-MLA. More than 10 ministers including Geetha Jeevan and Ma Subramanian were defeated. Stalin had last tasted defeat in 1991. Even Deputy CM Udhayanidhi's prospects appeared dim for a while as he trailed behind the TVK nominee in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Eventually, he won. As soon as it became clear that TVK was inching towards an unprecedented, huge win in its debut polls, party workers and supporters gathered in front of party office at Panaiyur here and burst firecrackers and distributed sweets. Also, Vijay's victory and often-repeated assurance of share in power to like-minded parties is expected to open a new chapter in the history of the state and TVK supporters expect the Congress (5), IUML (2), Left parties (4), VCK (2) and PMK (5) as well to offer support and have a share in power. Together such parties have won or leading in a total of 18 seats. TVK needs 118 seats to form government. This will the first time in Tamil Nadu that a party will assume power a little over two years after its founding. TVK has clocked nearly 35 per cent (34.92) vote share in its debut polls. The TVK was launched in February 2024. While the DMK has won 48 seats and is leading in 12 constituencies (24.20 per cent voteshare), AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami won by a record margin of 98,110 votes in his home segment of Edapadi in Salem district. The AIADMK has won 41 seats and is leading in six segments (21.25 per cent voteshare). While the party's seniors, including C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani won hands down, many others, such as former minister P Thangamani, suffered shock defeats. Interestingly, the TVK made heavy inroads in the AIADMK's bastion, western Tamil Nadu that includes Coimbatore, even as DMK emerged victorious in some seats. DMK President and outgoing Chief Minister Stalin took the defeat in his stride and said that his party bowed and accepted the people's verdict. He said he was truthful to all sections of people and had acted as per his conscience and also worked beyond his capacity for people's welfare. He asserted that his party, which worked well as the ruling party would from now on work well as the main opposition party. Stalin said in his public life, he had seen lot of victories and defeats as well and DMK's political journey will continue without any slackness. He said ideology is important rather than victories and defeats alone. AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami said that he accepts the people's verdict in the elections. In a statement here, he said, I express my gratitude to all the people, who rose up and performed their democratic duty in the assembly elections. Stating that the people were judges here, he said, Therefore, I wholeheartedly accept the decision given by the people. He said, We will soon recover from this setback. Meanwhile, scores of tinsel town names, including 'superstar' Rajinikanth greeted Vijay on his poll show. National award winner Dhanush, musician Anirudh Ravichander and many others extended their greetings. Interestingly, among the TVK winners was actor-director Srinath, who defeated state minister P Geetha Jeevan in Thoothukudi. NDA retains Puducherry Riding a pro-incumbency wave, the AINRC-led NDA emerged victorious in the April 9 Puducherry Assembly elections, all set to form the government for a successive term. AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy won from both the seats that he contested--Thattanchavady and Mangalam, even as the party won a total of 11 seats and was leading in one, according to latest Election Commission figures. Elections to 30 seats were held on April 9. The territorial assembly also has three nominated members to the House. NDA constituent BJP won from four seats while other coalition members--AIADMK and LJK, won from one seat each. Winners from BJP included party senior and incumbent minister A Namassivayam. The NDA's victory came on a day when actor Vijay-led TVK won in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also emerged victorious from two seats in the UT. Puducherry, a tiny UT located about 160 km from Chennai, borders Tamil Nadu districts Cuddalore and Villupuram on either sides. Opposition DMK won five seats and Congress one. While the CM trounced Neyam Makkal Kazhagam rival E Vinayagam by 4441 votes in Thattanchavady, his pocket borough seat, Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK's SS Rangan by 7050 votes. This is not the first time that Rangasamy has sought to contest from two seats. He contested in Yanam and Thattanchavady in the 2021 Assembly polls. He however was trounced in Yanam and was successful in Thattanchavady. He may have to now vacate one of the seats. Key losers include former CM Ve Vaithilingam at the hands of Rangasamy. Time for change, not revenge: PM Modi As the BJP swept the assembly elections in West Bengal for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the state has been finally freed from fear and that it was a time for change, not revenge, as he appealed to all parties to shun the culture of political violence and focus on the future of the state. Addressing the jubilant party workers at the BJP headquarters after the win in assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, PM Modi said the Congress, TMC, and others had been punished severely for opposing the recent women's reservation bill. He said that the Samajwadi Party would also face the wrath of women very soon, in an apparent reference to the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In his nearly 50-minute speech, the PM said the elections in West Bengal had been special this year, as earlier they were marred by violence, fear, and the death of innocent people. But this time the news was different as peaceful voting took place in West Bengal and for the first time, no one lost their life during voting, he said. As Bengal enters a new phase of change, I also want to make an earnest appeal to every political party in Bengal. Over the past decades in Bengal, countless lives have been ruined due to political violence. I firmly believe that this election culture of Bengal must change from today onwards. Today, when the BJP has won, the talk should not be of revenge, but of change; not of fear, but of the future, he said and urged the parties to end the vicious circle of violence. PM Modi said it was a special day in many ways as it heralds a bright future for the country. It is a day of trust in the great democracy of India, trust in the politics of performance, trust in the resolve of stability, trust in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat. I bow before the people of West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Keralam, he said at the victory celebration event where BJP President Nitin Nabin, Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, were present. PM Modi said on November 14 last year, when the Bihar election results came in, he told the BJP workers from this very spot that the Ganga flows onward from Bihar all the way to Ganga Sagar (in West Bengal). And today, with victory in West Bengal, from Gangotri (Uttarakhand) to Ganga Sagar (West Bengal), it is nothing but the lotus in full bloom. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal today, in these states surrounding Mother Ganga, there are BJP-NDA governments, he said. The PM said winning and losing are a natural part of democracy and politics, but the people of the five states have shown the world why the country is the mother of democracy. He said women's participation in this election had been exceptionally high and this was emerging as the brightest picture of Indian democracy. Women power is now rapidly progressing towards building a developed India. However, a few days ago, the Congress and its allies blocked this momentum of women's power. These anti-women parties prevented the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from being passed in Parliament. That is why I said a few days ago that parties opposing the women's reservation bill will have to face the wrath of women. Today, sisters and daughters have punished the Congress, TMC, and DMK, PM Modi said. He said the Congress had certainly benefited from the 10 years of misrule by the Left in Kerala, but expressed confidence that the mothers and sisters of Kerala will also definitely teach the Congress a lesson in the next elections. The Samajwadi Party, which has blocked women's reservation in Parliament, will also have to face the opposition of the women of Uttar Pradesh. No matter what the anti-women Samajwadi Party does, it will never be able to wash away its sins, the PM said. Referring to Assam, he said that along with the river Ganga, the Brahmaputra has also showered immense blessings upon the BJP, and the blessings of Maa Kamakhya have been with the party. The people of Assam have trusted the BJP-NDA for the third consecutive time, he said. PM Modi said that in 2021, the NDA put forward the vision of BEST Puducherry. The people of Puducherry trusted in the vision and blessed the alliance. I want to assure the youth and fishermen of Puducherry that we will keep working for your bright future. The prosperity of Puducherry is our resolve, he said. The PM said the BJP-NDA governments are in power in more than 20 states of the country. Our mantra is 'citizen is god'. We are dedicated to serving the people; therefore, the people are placing more and more trust in the BJP. The people are clearly seeing that where there is BJP, there is good governance. Where there is BJP, there is development, he said. PM Modi said that with the BJP's victory in West Bengal, the soul of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee must be at peace now. I respectfully bow to the people of Bengal, the people of Assam, the people of Puducherry, and the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala today; I salute them all. Today, I also heartily congratulate the countless workers of the BJP. Every small and big worker of the BJP has once again performed a miracle, has made the lotus bloom. You have created a new history, he said. After his speech, the PM held a meeting at the BJP headquarters with Nabin, Shah, Singh and former party chief J P Nadda. Result aftershocks to be felt all the way up to 2029: CM Omar Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday, while describing the stunning assembly election results in the West Bengal and the Tamil Nadu as political earthquakes, cautioned that their (results') aftershocks would be felt far and wide for a long time, probably all the way up to 2029. CM Omar shared this measured reaction on his personal X handle - where earlier in his instant first reaction, presumably also to the early trends vis--vis assembly election results, he actually created a flutter with his two-word tweet. Bloody hell!! was his ambiguous (the very first) tweet, which he posted with emoticons sharing an expression of disbelief on X handle at 11:01 am on Monday, May 4, 2026. Though the Chief Minister left ample scope for its (tweets) interpretations yet it was read directly in relation to the assembly election result trends by millions of his followers. By evening, CM Omars enigmatic two-word post had already garnered 1.8 million views and 23,200 plus likes. However, later, he posted a guarded post wherein he, probably hinting towards current cacophony that has crept in news bulletins, talked about his imagery of sane and sensible interpretation of the trends and results identifying them with those presented by ace veteran broadcaster Prannoy Roy. In the same post, he mentioned the after-effects of the political-earthquake that shook West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and their lingering impact to be experienced for a long time. Elections in India have always meant @PrannoyRoy7749 for sane, sensible interpretation of the trends & results and thats why today the screens in my office have been tuned to @DeKoderAI to watch the unfolding political earthquake in West Bengal & Tamil Nadu. The aftershocks of these results will be felt far & wide for a long time, probably all the way up to 2029, CM Omar posted. This post too had garnered 380,000 views 4900 plus likes by evening. Notably Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah, during media interactions in the past couple of days, had exuded confidence about the victory of TMCs Mamata Banerjee, even after the exit poll results, some of which had predicted her partys rout in West Bengal. As far as DMK was concerned, even the exit polls generally had not predicted the defeat of DMK. The NC is part of the INDIA bloc led by Congress. Trinamool Congress and DMK are also constituents of this alliance.
WB polls: BJP crosses majority mark, leads in 185 seats; Mamata ahead in Bhabanipur
Kolkata, May 04: Signalling a potential political churn in West Bengal, a state long dominated by TMC's Mamata Banerjee, the BJP surged past the halfway mark on Monday, leading in 185 assembly seats against the TMCs 91 as counting progressed steadily, according to the Election Commission data. With the majority mark of 148 in the 294-member House breached in early trends, the Bharatiya Janata Partys momentum pointed to a possible breakthrough, while the ruling Trinamool Congress scrambled to close the widening gap in what has emerged as a potentially game-changing electoral battle. The early numbers, indicating a possible outcome that could reshape the states political landscape following a fiercely fought elections, also suggested a geographically split mandate, with the BJP pushing ahead in border, tribal and industrial regions, while the TMC held ground in parts of Kolkata and select rural strongholds. Counting for 293 Assembly seats began at 8 am with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes. The Election Commission has countermanded polls in the entire Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district, citing severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during polling in a large number of polling stations. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Banerjees bid for a fourth consecutive term against an aggressive BJP that has sought to convert its 2021 gains into a decisive breakthrough. Even as the broader trend favoured the BJP, Banerjee was ahead in her Bhabanipur stronghold by 16,706 votes over BJP challenger Suvendu Adhikari after five rounds of counting, offering early comfort to the TMC in a prestige seat. The Bhabanipur contest witnessed sharp swings through the morning, with Banerjee leading in the first round, trailing in the second, and regaining the advantage in the third underlining the volatility of early trends. However, in Nandigram, the other marquee battleground, Adhikari was ahead by over 3,135 votes against TMCs Pabitra Kar after two rounds of counting. Beyond the headline numbers, the trends indicated a deeper churn in the states political landscape. For a party that has known uninterrupted power since 2011, the current numbers with the BJP surging ahead in over 174 seats and the TMC trailing well behind suggest the possible unravelling of a carefully constructed political machine that thrived on centralised authority, welfare outreach and relentless booth-level mobilisation. The scale of the shift is reflected in emerging vote share patterns, with the BJPs share rising to around 44.8 per cent a sharp jump from 2021 while the TMCs dipped to nearly 41.7 per cent, indicating erosion across segments that once formed its dependable base. Perhaps more telling is the churn in the 177 constituencies where voter deletions had exceeded previous victory margins a silent faultline that appears to have turned electoral. The BJP was holding ground in all the seats it had won in this category in 2021 and making inroads into several of the 120 segments that the TMC had previously dominated, pointing to a deeper, more systemic shift rather than a transient swing. Initial trends from across the state showed several TMC heavyweights trailing, triggering concern within the ruling camp. In Cooch Behar districts Dinhata, minister Udayan Guha was trailing by 6,259 votes against BJPs Ajay Ray after four of the 24 rounds of counting. TMCs Manas Ranjan Bhunia was trailing in Paschim Medinipur districts Sabang constituency, where he has won seven elections earlier, with BJPs Amal Kumar Panda ahead by 693 votes after the third round. In Kolkata, BJPs Purnima Chakraborty was leading by 1,430 votes over TMC minister Shashi Panja, signalling early cracks in some urban pockets for the ruling party. In Monteswar, BJPs Saikat Panja was ahead by 13,308 votes over TMCs Siddiqullah Chowdhury, while in Asansol Dakshin, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul was leading by 18,812 votes. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee was trailing by 1,448 votes in Baruipur Paschim constituency. The BJP was also leading in a swath of constituencies, including Dinhata, Gosaba, Baghmundi, Bankura, Durgapur Purba, Binpur, Nayagram, Rajganj and Bhagwangola, indicating traction across Junglemahal, north Bengal and industrial belts. In contrast, the TMC retained leads in pockets such as Deganga, besides urban seats like Kasba, Ballygunge, Bhabanipur and Entally, and rural belts including Singur, Raina, Jamalpur, Khandaghosh, Sitai, Malatipur and Mothabari. The CPI(M) was leading in Domkal in Murshidabad district, while the ISF was ahead in Minakhan in South 24 Parganas. Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was leading in Nowda in Murshidabad over his nearest TMC rival after the first round, with a margin of 2,890 votes and several rounds remaining. Officials cautioned that trends could shift significantly as more rounds are counted, with clearer patterns expected only later in the day.
Asansol Dakshin Election Results 2026 News: Asansol Dakshin gears up for a key 2026 election. BJP's Agnimitra Paul faces TMC's Tapas Banerjee. Paul won in 2021, unseating the TMC. Banerjee previously held the seat. This election tests regional dominance. The BJP aims to retain the constituency. The TMC seeks to regain its footing. Voters will decide the outcome in this closely watched contest.
Rahul Gandhi slams TMC over workers killing in Bengal
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Trinamool Congress, alleging a reign of terror after party worker Debdeep Chatterjee was killed in Asansol following the polls. He condemned the incident and said the Congress would not bow to violence that undermines Indias non-violent traditions
TMCs reign of terror prevails in West Bengal: Rahul
NEW DELHI, Apr 26: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of party worker Debdeep Chatterjee allegedly by TMC goons, and said his party will not bow before this politics that stains Indias non-violent tradition. Chatterjee was brutally murdered in Asansol during post-poll violence. He was closely associated with Asansol North Congress candidate Prasenjit Puitandi, the party claimed. The worker was attacked and beaten by those linked to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and succumbed to [] The post TMCs reign of terror prevails in West Bengal: Rahul appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Rahul Gandhi Condemns Murder of Congress Worker in Asansol, Calls for Justice
New Delhi, April 26: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has strongly criticized the murder of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee in Asansol, West Bengal, following the elections. He has accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers of being responsible for Debdeeps death. Gandhi stated that democracy is absent in West Bengal, replaced ... Read more Rahul Gandhi Condemns Murder of Congress Worker in Asansol, Calls for Justice
Watch | WB polls: BJP candidate Agnimitra Pauls car attacked in Asansol
An incident of violence has been reported from Asansol as polling began in West Bengal. BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul alleged that her car was attacked near Rahmat Nagar while she was leaving a polling booth in Asansol Dakshin.
Bengal polls: BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul's car attacked in Asansol, rear windowpanes shattered
Stones were thrown at my moving car as I was exiting a polling booth premises. The rear window was shattered. It is very clear who is behind this. This is an attempt to influence the election, says BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul's car was vandalized in a stone-pelting incident in Asansol after she exited a polling booth. Paul alleged a deliberate attempt to influence the elections and filed a complaint. Contesting from Asansol South, she expressed confidence in the BJP's prospects, calling the election a 'war to save Bengal' focused on jobs and development.
Bengal Polls: BJP MLA Agnimitra Pauls Car Attacked in Asansol
The incumbent MLA said a complaint has been lodged with the poll authorities. Police said they were probing the incident and security has been tightened in the area.
TMC worker intimidating voters in Asansol, says BJPs Agnimitra Paul
BJPs Agnimitra Paul Claims Victory in West Bengal Elections
Asansol, April 23: Agnimitra Paul, the BJP candidate from Asansol South, has confidently asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win the West Bengal Assembly elections. She stated, We are winning the elections. The people of West Bengal have decided they do not want a TMC government this time. On Thursday, Paul cast her ... Read more BJPs Agnimitra Paul Claims Victory in West Bengal Elections
Meet Agnimitra Paul, BJP MLA Defending Asansol Dakshin Seat
Agnimitra Paul had won Agnimitra Paul seat in 2021 by defeating TMCs Saayoni Ghosh by 4,487 votes.
Agnimitra Paul vs Tapas Banerjee: Asansol turns key battleground ahead of Bengal assembly polls
Regime change in Bengal inevitable, TMCs repository of sins full: PM
ASANSOL (WB), Apr 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that a regime change in West Bengal is inevitable as the TMCs repository of sins has become full. Beginning his speech at this coal and industrial belt by invoking local deities Goddesses Kalyaneshwari and Ghagar Buri Chandi, Modi highlighted the states economic decadence, saying, Bengals contribution in national GDP has slid to mere five per cent from 12 per cent earlier. A regime change in Bengal is now cast [] The post Regime change in Bengal inevitable, TMCs repository of sins full: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Regime change in Bengal inevitable, TMC's repository of sins full: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated a change in West Bengal's government is certain. He pointed to economic decline and alleged syndicate raj and mafia rule in Asansol. Modi assured that the BJP government will bring development to Asansol and Durgapur. He also claimed Bengal leads in acid attack cases and pledged women's safety under BJP rule.
PM Modi addresses massive rally in West Bengal | Haldia | Asansol | Birbhum | Assembly Election 2026
West Bengal polls: PM to boost BJP campaign with three rallies
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three rallies at Haldia, Asansol and Suri in West Bengal on Thursday, April 9, to intensify the BJPs campaign for the state assembly polls. This will be his second visit to the state since the announcement of the poll schedule in mid-March. According to the PMs schedule shared Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
PM Modi to sharpen BJP's Bengal campaign with three poll rallies on Thursday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three rallies in West Bengal on Thursday, visiting Haldia, Asansol, and Suri to intensify the BJP's campaign for the state assembly polls. This visit aims to consolidate support in areas of BJP gains and expand into TMC strongholds, focusing on themes of trust versus fear.
I-PAC, Nair Premises Searched in ED Probe on Coal Scam
The case originates from a November 2020 FIR registered by the CBI, which alleged a multi-crore coal pilferage racket linked to Eastern Coalfields Limited mines in the Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol.
West Bengal polls: Coal economy, identity politics shape contest in Asansol Dakshin
Asansol Dakshin gears up for a crucial 2026 West Bengal assembly election. Key issues include the declining coal economy, illegal mining, and identity politics. The BJP aims to retain the seat, while the TMC seeks to regain ground. Land subsidence and demographic shifts also influence the electoral landscape.
EC Transfers 19 Senior Police Officers In Poll-bound West Bengal
Pranav Kumar was appointed the new CP of Asansol-Durgapur in Paschim Bardhaman, Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi was named the CP of Howrah, Amit Kumar Singh was named the new CP of Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas, and Sunil Kumar Yadav was appointed the CP of Chandannagar in Hooghly district
BJP Releases List of 144 Candidates for WB Polls
The party has also fielded its senior leader Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar, Biman Mahto from Salboni, both in Paschim Medinipur district, while Swapan Dasgupta will contest the Rashbehari seat in South Kolkata. The party has fielded Agnimitra Paul from Asansol Dakshin, Rudranil Ghosh from Shibpur. The 294 seats in West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases, on April 23 and April 29, with the counting scheduled on May 4.
West Bengal Election 2026: 10 Key Constituencies: West Bengal Assembly elections are announced. Key constituencies in Kolkata and surrounding areas are set for intense political contests. Bhabanipur, Nandigram, Ballygunge, Kolkata Port, Bhangar, Baruipur Paschim, Diamond Harbour, Tamluk, Asansol Dakshin, and Kharagpur Sadar are among the seats to watch.
Emailed Bomb Threat To WB Courts Sparks Panic, Spoils Proceedings
The email was sent to the top judges at the City Sessions Court in Kolkata, two district courts at Asansol and Durgapur in Burdwan West, Chinsurah and Arambagh Courts in Hooghly and Murshidabad district court at around 11 am.
BJP president Nitin Nabin visits West Bengal
Instead of visiting Kolkata, the BJP president chose Durgapur and Asansol in the south western part of the State. The region has a strong BJP presence and the partys performance in this part of the state is crucial in the upcoming assembly polls
Watch video of passenger train crashing into loaded truck at crossing in Jharkhands Deoghar
A major train accident was narrowly averted in Jharkhand's Deoghar district when the GondaAsansol Express collided with a truck at an open railway crossing. The incident injured two bikers and disrupted rail services for two hours. A committee has been formed to investigate the cause, with action promised against those responsible.
3 Killed After Coal Mine Collapses In West Bengal, Says BJP MLA
A coal mine collapsed in West Bengal's Asansol on Tuesday, leaving five people trapped under the debris.
