Mainstream WeeklyThe 2026 elections for the West Bengal assembly was unprecedented in two ways. First, it was the first ever violence-free election in the history of the State, Secondly, the voter turnout, was nearly 93%. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in this eastern State by bagging a massive 207 seats out of 293 seats. The ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), facing anti-incumbency at the end of its third term, secured only 80 seats and will now sit in Opposition. The Indian National Congress (INC) performed well by capturing 2 seats, as they had no representation in this assembly in last five years. The newly formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) was able to secure 2 seats, while the Indian Secular Front (ISF) claimed a single seat. Though the total number of seats of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly is 294, results were declared for 293 seats as the election of the Falta Assembly Constitution was cancelled and a repoll was declared on 21 May, 2026.
if we look at the vote share, the BJP has set a record by increasing its percentage by almost 8% in the last five years.
THE VOTE SHARE increase was primarily because of a claustrophobic political atmosphere in the State, and obviously the common people wanted a change. They have relied on the promises made by eminent political leaders, including the Prime Minister of the country. The concept of
