The Hindu reports: The BJP stormed past the majority mark in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday (May 4, 2026), winning 202 seats and leading in 4 others, according to the Election Commission. The halfway mark stands at 148 in the 294-member House, but with counting of votes currently underway for 293 seats as polling in Falta was countermanded, the majority mark dropped to 147. Also Read | Victory in West Bengal is a paradigm shift in the BJP’s political journey Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (May 4) established a dominant position in two of West Bengal’s most-watched constituencies, Bhabanipur and Nandigram, winning them both.
Figures from the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the 20th and final round of counting in Bhabanipur show Mr. Adhikari winning against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a substantial margin of 15,105 votes. Also read: An SIR-marred turnout in West Bengal This year the State saw a turnout of 92.8% in the first phase on April 23, while the second recorded 91.47 % polling on April 29 — the highest in the State since Independence, according to the State’s Chief Electoral Officer.
Background
It was the shifting away of the Muslim vote from the Left Front to the Trinamool Congress that brought Mamata Banerjee to power in 2011. About 15 years later, a split in the minority vote became one of the reasons why the Trinamool Congress lost power in 2026. The Muslim vote bank which remained steady with the Trinamool over the past several elections saw a spilt in the 2026 Assembly polls, with the Left-ISF alliance, the Congress and Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) spoiling the Trinamool party.
Key facts
- The BJP stormed past the majority mark in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday (May 4, 2026), winning 202 seats and leading in 4 others, according to the Election Commission.
- Figures from the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the 20th and final round of counting in Bhabanipur show Mr.
- Adhikari winning against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a substantial margin of 15,105 votes.
- It was the shifting away of the Muslim vote from the Left Front to the Trinamool Congress that brought Mamata Banerjee to power in 2011.
- About 15 years later, a split in the minority vote became one of the reasons why the Trinamool Congress lost power in 2026.
What this means
The West Bengal Assembly polls have given a decisive victory to the Bharatiya Janata Party, over the All India Trinamool Congress. However, the vote counting still remains under way for one seat --Rajarhat New Town. The TMC’s Tapash Chatterjee is shown as leading with 300+ votes, as per ECI data.
The results of the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal marks a tectonic shift in the political landscape of the State. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the first time in history, has emerged as a clear winner with 206 seats and a vote share of 45.84%, up from around 38% in 2021. The Trinamool Congress on the other hand has won 81 seats with 40.8% of the vote share, down from 48% in 2021.
Originally reported by The Hindu. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
