The Bharatiya Janata Party is headed for a major victory in West Bengal as counting trends show the party leading by a wide margin. According to data from the Election Commission of India, BJP was leading or winning in over 200 seats out of the 293 where counting is underway. This marks a significant political shift in the state, which has long been governed by the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

Reacting to the results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the day as historic and said the victory had been long-awaited. Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters, he began his speech with chants of “Bharat Mata ki jai” and said the day held special significance in many ways. His remarks reflected the party’s confidence after gaining a strong lead early in the counting process.

During his speech, PM Modi used a symbolic phrase to describe BJP’s growing presence across the country. "Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, har jagah Kamal hi Kamal khila hua hai [from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, it is Lotus everywhere]," PM Modi said later in his speech, referring to the expanding BJP reach across the country. He further added, “Ek baar phir se kamal khila diya hai [Lotus has bloomed once again],” as he thanked party leaders and workers for what he described as a landslide victory.

The counting of votes for the 2026 assembly elections began at 8 am on Monday. Soon after the process started, BJP took an early lead and continued to widen the gap over TMC as more rounds of counting were completed. By around 7:30 pm, BJP was leading or winning in 206 seats, while TMC was far behind with leads in 81 seats. The trends clearly pointed towards a decisive win for BJP in the state.

Along with its strong performance in West Bengal, BJP also secured victories in Assam and the Union territory of Puducherry. These results further strengthened the party’s position at the national level and added to its electoral momentum across different regions.

Speaking about the broader significance of the election results, PM Modi said the verdict showed why India is called the “mother of democracy”. He emphasised that not just democracy, but the Constitution of India had also emerged victorious through this electoral process. His statement highlighted the importance of public participation and institutional strength in the country’s democratic system.

PM Modi also pointed out the high voter turnout in the elections. He said that the 93 per cent voting percentage was historic in itself. He added that states such as Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Keralam saw strong participation, especially from women voters. This, he noted, reflected the increasing engagement of citizens in the democratic process.

Acknowledging the role of security personnel, PM Modi expressed gratitude for their efforts during the elections. “Your contribution to upholding the dignity of India's democracy will always be remembered,” he said, recognising their role in ensuring a smooth and secure voting process across regions.

While speaking about the victory in West Bengal, PM Modi also remembered Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He said that Mukherjee’s soul must have found peace with this result, linking the victory to the party’s ideological roots and long-term goals in the state.

PM Modi described the outcome as the beginning of a new chapter for West Bengal. He said the state had now become fear-free and that voters had shown the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC an exit door. His remarks suggested that the election result reflected a desire for political change among the people of the state.

On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee strongly disagreed with the outcome and raised serious allegations against BJP and the election process. Addressing the media, she claimed that more than 100 seats have been unfairly taken by BJP. “More than 100 seats BJP looted. The Election Commission is the BJP's commission. I complained to the CO and also Manoj Agrawal, but they are not doing anything. Do you think this is a victory? It is an immoral victory, not a moral victory,” Mamata Banerjee said.

She further alleged that the role of the Election Commission, Central Forces, and top leaders of the central government was questionable. According to her, the entire process was conducted in a manner that was not fair. She said, “Whatever the Election Commission has done, along with the Central Forces and the PM and home minister, is totally illegal,” expressing strong dissatisfaction with how the elections were managed.

Despite the setback, Mamata Banerjee said her party would not give up. She stated that they would recover from the loss and continue their political fight. “We will bounce back,” she added, indicating that the TMC plans to regroup and remain active in the state’s political landscape.

The contrasting reactions from BJP and TMC highlight the sharp political divide following the election results. While BJP sees the outcome as a major milestone and a sign of growing national strength, TMC has questioned the legitimacy of the victory and raised concerns about the fairness of the process.

As the counting process nears completion, the results are set to reshape West Bengal’s political landscape. The outcome not only signals a shift in power within the state but also reflects broader trends in Indian politics, where voter participation and party organisation continue to play a crucial role.