Counting of votes for the assembly elections in West Bengal is underway. The state’s governing Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing a challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly, or the Vidhan Sabha, has a total of 294 seats. Thus, a party or an alliance needs 148 seats to win the election and form the government. However, polling has been delayed in two constituencies. The TMC, BJP and the Left-Congress alliance were locked in an intense battle for months amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Nandigram, Banerjee has been defeated her former-aide-turned BJP rival Suvendu Adhikari by 1,736 votes.
The TMC looks set to win over 200 seats. Exit polls had predicted a close contest. While some exit polls predicted a win for the Trinamool, others have suggested the BJP could emerge victorious in Bengal for the first time. The TMC was fighting some degree of anti-incumbency after being in power for 10 years and was attempting to ward off a challenge by the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Left Front, which once governed Bengal for decades, allied with the Congress. Both were hoping to turn around their fortunes after shrinking electorally in the state for over a decade. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates as votes are counted across the state.
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