Vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway across 293 constituencies, with early trends showing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding a significant lead over the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

According to the latest data, BJP is leading in 192 seats, while TMC is ahead in 96 seats. Other parties, including Congress, CPI(M), AISF, and AJUP, are leading in a few constituencies.

Both BJP and TMC have recorded their first confirmed wins. BJP candidate Saikat Panja won the Monteswar seat by more than 14,000 votes, while TMC’s Reyat Hossain Sarkar secured the Bhagawangola seat with a margin of over 56,000 votes.

In Asansol Uttar, TMC leader and minister Moloy Ghatak is leading by more than 16,000 votes against BJP candidate Krishnendu Mukherjee.

In the Bhabanipur constituency, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leading over BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari, though her margin has reduced from over 17,000 votes to around 9,000 after several rounds of counting.

In Tollyganj, TMC minister Aroop Biswas is trailing BJP candidate Papia Adhikari by a narrow margin after early rounds.

The Election Commission of India reported that about 47 percent of votes had been counted by mid-afternoon, with earlier figures showing just over 30 percent counted by early afternoon.

TMC leaders have raised concerns over the pace of counting and alleged delays in the release of trends. Some party members have also made allegations regarding electronic voting machines.

Congress candidate Julfikar Ali is leading in the Raninagar constituency.

Counting is ongoing across all constituencies, and final results are awaited.