The BJP was expected to run the ruling Trinamool Congress close and it was a tight contest as of 9.30 p.m. with the Trinamool winning 7 seats and leading in 15. The BJP had won three constituencies and were also leading in 15.
A polarised campaign, and violent polling marked the parliamentary elections in West Bengal. In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission of India barred campaigning a day early, before the seventh and final phase, after a bout of clashes led to the damage of property, including a bust of reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Of the 42 constituencies in the State, the ruling Trinamool Congress holds 34 seats. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party both have two seats each, while the Congress has four seats. The State saw average 81.9% polling over seven phases.
Here are updates:
Trends as of 4:30 p.m
As of 4.30 p.m., Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress is leading in West Bengal, with leads in 25 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, with the BJP second with leads in 16 seats. In the 2014 Parliamentary elections, the Trinamool had won 34 seats, and the BJP just two. The Congress has managed to bag the lead in just 1 seat this year.
The leads mirror exit poll trends, which had predicted major in-roads for the BJP, with at least 14 seats in this crucial State. The BJP has come close to the Trinamool's 43.6% vote share in the State, at 40.1%.
Among the prominent candidates, Union Minister Babul Supriyo is leading in the Asansol seat, where he fought against actor and Trinamool candidate Moon Moon Sen. Arjun Singh of the BJP, who was formerly with the Trinamool is trailing in Barrackpore, against Dinesh Tivedi of the Trinamool in a close-fought contest. Mr. Trivedi is leading with a narrow margin of 696 votes. Former IPS officer, BJP's Bharati Ghosh is trailing in Ghatal against Deepak Adhikari of the Trinamool. Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia was trailing against Trinamool's Dr. Mamtaz Sanghamita in Burdwan-durgapur.
Mamata Banerjee, a vocal critic of the Modi government, has been Chief Minister of the State since 2012, after three decades of Left Rule. Analysts see the BJP's significant vote shares as those of the "left turning" right, as the CPM had just 6.77% of the vote share this time around.
Trends as of 2 p.m
As of 2 p.m., Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is leading in West Bengal, with leads in 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, with the BJP a close second with leads in 19 seats. The Congress has managed to bag the lead in just 1 seat.
The leads mirror exist poll trends, which had predicted major in-roads for the BJP, with at least 14 seats, in this crucial State. The BJP has come close to the TMC's 43.7% vote share in the State, at 39.9%.
Among the prominent candidates, Union Minister Babul Supriyo is leading in the Asansol seat, where he fought against actor and TMC candidate Moon Moon Sen. Arjun Singh of the BJP, who was formerly with the TMC is leading in Barrackpore, against Dinesh Tivedi of the TMC.
Former IPS officer, BJP's Bharati Ghosh however is trailing in Ghatal against Deepak Adhikari of the TMC.
BJP leading in 16 seats in Bengal, State at the doorstep of history
Within two hours of counting three things were evident in 2019 elections in West Bengal.
One , the BJP has emerged the main rival of TMC in the State with a good lead in 16 of 42 seats. Counting in five of at least 15 rounds, on an average, is over. TMC is marginally ahead of the saffron party with 23 seats.
Secondly , the Left – for the first time over last 50 years – has been entirely decimated, scoring less than 8% votes, with all key Left Front constituents put together. It is drop of about 22% from 2014 Lok Sabha poll.
Thirdly , Bengal’s left-leaning politics is all set to take a right turn, entirely altering the political landscape.
The victory is indeed attributed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the battle for Bengal from the front, addressing 17 meetings in six weeks.
BJP, since its formation in 1980, has never had the kind of success close to the one is having currently. In fact, neither its predecessor, the Jana Sangh or the other popular Hindu right party, the Hindu Mahasabha, was anywhere close to BJP’s success in Bengal since Independence.
Around mid-day BJP polled 39% votes, a clear jump of 22%, that the left has lost.
While Congress share dropped by about five percent, TMC managed to retain its base. TMC, at 12 noon, has polled 44.65% votes which is marginally less than what it got in 2016 Assembly poll.
TMC increased its share by 5% at 12 noon. The results are expected to change later in the day. - Suvojit Bagchi
Trends as of 12 p.m
As of 12 p.m., Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is leading in West Bengal, with leads in 24 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP has the lead in 17 of the seats, with the Congress far behind at 1.
The leads mirror exit poll trends, which had predicted major in-roads for the BJP, with at least 14 seats, in this crucial State. The BJP has come close to the TMC's 44.5% vote share in the State, at 39.1%.
In the 2014 Parliamentary elections, the TMC had won 34 seats, and the BJP just two.
Mamata Banerjee, a vocal critic of the Modi government, has been Chief Minister of the State since 2012, after three decades of Left Rule. Analysts see the BJPs significant vote shares as those of the "left turning" right, as the CPM had just 6.69% of the vote share this time around.
Trends as of 10 a.m.
As of 10 a.m., Mamta Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is leading in West Bengal, with leads in 25 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP has the lead in 16 of the seats, with the Congress far behind at 1.
The leads mirror exit poll trends, which had predicted major in-roads for the BJP, with at least 14 seats, in this crucial State.
In the 2014 Parliamentary elections, the TMC had won 34 seats, and the BJP just two.
Counting of votes began on Thursday in 58 counting centres across the State.
Around 25,000 counting personnel have been deployed by the Election Commission.
