Bengal: BJP Set to Form Government with Two-Thirds Majority

Kolkata (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the next government in West Bengal after securing a decisive two-thirds majority in the 2026 Assembly elections. The victory effectively ends the 15-year tenure of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Electoral Breakdown and Vote Share

Out of the 293 constituencies where results were declared on Monday, the BJP claimed 206 seats, surpassing the 196-seat mark required for a two-thirds majority.

• BJP: 206 seats (46% vote share).

• Trinamool Congress: 81 seats (41% vote share).

• Congress: 2 seats (3% vote share).

• CPI(M): 1 seat (4% vote share for the Left Front).

• Others: Includes AISF (1 seat) and AJUP (2 seats).

The Election Commission has announced repolling for the Falta constituency on May 21, with those results expected on May 24.

Major Upsets and Cabinet Defeats

The TMC suffered total losses in ten districts, including East Midnapore, Bankura, and Purulia, where it failed to win a single seat. Additionally, the party was defeated in every tribal- and Matua-dominated constituency.

Several high-profile cabinet members lost their seats, including:

• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

• Finance Minister (IC) Chandrima Bhattacharya.

• Education Minister Bratya Basu.

• Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Shashi Panja.

• Power Minister Aroop Biswas.

Notable Victories

The BJP saw success from diverse candidates, including three journalist-turned-politicians: Swapan Dasgupta (Rashbehari), Jagannath Chattopadhyay (Suri), and Santu Pan (Tarakeswar).

In a significant symbolic win, BJP’s Swapna Debnath won the Panihati seat. She is the mother of the junior doctor who was the victim of the August 2024 tragedy at R.G. Kar Medical College.