West Bengal Election Results: Mamata Banerjee is a fierce critic of the BJP government
The Trinamool Congress and the BJP were in a neck-and-neck competition in Bengal before Mamata Banerjee's party took the lead. However, BJP is now leading in 18 seats, which is a big jump from last time's win in two seats. A close competition ensues between the parties.
The BJP is heading for a landslide victory with the party alone set to cross the 300 mark on its own as leads showed a NDA sweep in the national elections.
The crucial Lok Sabha election results will be announced today after a marathon seven-phased election. West Bengal is a crucial state as it sends 42 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha. The Mamata Banerjee-ruled state had a majority the 2014 elections with 34 wins for her party Trinamool Congress. Exit polls have predicted 14 seats for the BJP this time; only two from the party won last time. Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand leader of the state, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Narendra Modi government.
Bengal has been marred by violence since the beginning of the elections with Section 144 being imposed in Bhatpara on Tuesday. Bombs were flung; cars were set on fire in the North 24 Parganas district before the Election Commission imposed prohibitory orders.
Last week, a statue of Bengal reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised at BJP chief Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata. Trinamool and BJP blamed each other for the violence. A day later, the Election Commission invoked Article 324 of the Constitution to prohibit campaigning in nine constituencies of West Bengal from 10 pm on Thursday until the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls on May 19.
Counting of votes is underway and the Election Commission has said the final results will be in only by late evening.
Here are the highlights of Bengal election results:
Election Results 2019: The two castes PM Modi proposes
There was a time when some political parties kept slogans like "let secular forces unite, let secularism stand as one". But between 2014 and 2019, their reality was unveiled and this time no one mustered the courage to try and spread lies under the garb of secularism. They stood exposed.
After 5 years of our governance, the opposition could not find a single issue to blame us. No corruption, no real issues to blame us that tells a story.
We are now building a new India and the first thing to end in this New India will be this caste system that holds us back and divides us. From here on there will only be 2 castes. One caste is 'Poor' and the other caste is of those who will contribute in every smallest way possible to help those who need to be brought out of poverty.
This is not Modi's win, says PM Modi at BJP headquarters
There are many who say Modi-Modi. But this win is not Modi's win. It is the victory of the earnest and honest Indian. It is the victory of those farmers who work night and day, through blood and sweat so that we get our meals. It is a win for that woman in rural India who waited for ages just to get a toilet. It is a win for those who sat in darkness for decades just to see the luxury of a light bulb. This is their victory.
BJP is a special party, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
BJP is a special party. Nothing stops us. Nothing holds us back. We work and work tirelessly and stay focused. In fact, there was a time when we were even down to 2. Even when we were down to two, we never gave up. We never went off track. We kept our focus and worked very hard and today we all are here and you all can see and that is our story. And that is what is special about the BJP.
Election Results 2019: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at BJP headquarters
This is the biggest democratic event in the whole world.
To give your life's contribution to the cause of democracy is the essence of democracy... and I thank every single person who has been involved in this process from the bottom of my heart and hold you all in the highest regard.
When Krishna was asked who he represents... he replied, I stand for no one person or people... I stand for Hastinapur... so if today someone has won, it is India that has won... if someone is victorious in this celebration of democracy, it is the people...And hence, I place this victory at the feet of the people of India.
I want to wish the best to all those who were elected today to parliament, and sincerely hope that everyone in parliament will work together for the betterment of the country... and to take the country forward.
There were many state elections too... and I want to congratulate those who have been elected in the respective states.... I salute them and the federal structure of India... I assure them all that we will work together as a team... The Centre will cooperate and work with states every step of the way.
Amit Shah speaks about Bengal gain after BJP's massive victory
What do I say about Bengal. After being targeted, attacked... many of our party workers even lost their lives in our struggle in Bengal... but we have performed extremely well by getting 18 or 19 seats...I thank every single person in Bengal... every single party worker... every single voter to turn out in spite of all the ragging and violence and come out and vote for the BJP.
Lok Sabha elections 2019: Chandan Mitra "shell-shocked at the Bengal vote count"I am shell-shocked. BJP has become govt-in-waiting in Bengal": Chandan Mitra, Trinamool Congress
Election Results 2019: PM Modi tweets after the landslide lead
Bengal Elections 2019: WATCH | Moon Moon Sen upset over Bengal losses
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS LIVE: Trinamool Heavyweights Trailing, Leading
Moon Moon Sen trails Babul Supriyo in Asansol, Dinesh Trivedi trailing in Barrackpore.
Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee is leading in Diamond Harbour, Mahua Moitra is leading in Krishnanagar, Saugata Roy in Dum Dum.
Bengal Election Results: Mamata Banerjee tweeted a congratulatory message on Twitter:
"Congratulations to the winners. But all losers are not losers. We have to do a complete review and then we will share our views with you all. Let the counting process be completed fully and the VVPATs matched."
Celebrations outside BJP office in Kolkata:Bengal is looking at a saffron surge as the BJP is racing towards an impressive score
Trinamool Congress congratulates Y S Jagan Reddy as YSR Congress heads for landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh
BENGAL LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS: Trinamool in the lead
BENGAL LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS: Candidates in the lead- Maldaha Uttar - Khagen Murmu - BJP
- Mathurapur - Choudhury Mohan Jatua - TMC
- Medinipur - Dilip Ghosh - BJP
- Murshidabad - Abu Taher Khan- TMC
- Purulia - Jyotirmay Singh Mahato - BJP
- Raiganj - Debasree Chaudhuri - BJP
- Ranaghat - Jagannath Sarkar - BJP
- Sreerampur - Debjit Sarkar - BJP
- Tamluk - Sidharthasankar Naskar - BJP
- Uluberia - Sajda Ahmed - TMC
BENGAL LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS: Candidates in the lead- Birbhum Satabdi Roy TMC
- Bishnupur Khan Saumitra BJP
- Bolpur Asit Kumar Mal TMC
- Burdwan Durgapur Surendrajeet Ahluwalia BJP
- Coochbehar Adhikary Paresh Chandra TMC
- Darjeeling Raju Bista BJP
- Diamond Harbour Abhishek Banerjee TMC
- Dum Dum Saugata Roy TMC
- Ghatal Deepak Adhikari TMC
- Hooghly Locket Chatterjee BJP
BENGAL LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS: Candidates in the lead- Alipurduars- John Barla - BJP
- Arambag - Aparupa Poddar - TMC
- Asansol - Babul Supriyo - BJP
- Baharampur- Adhir Chowdhury - Cong
- Balurghat - Arpita Ghosh - TMC
- Bangaon- Chandan Mallick - BSP
- Bankura - Dr Subhas Sarkar - BJP
- Barasat - Dr Kakoli Ghoshdastidar -TMC
- Bardhaman Purba - Sunil Kumar Mondal - TMC
- Barrackpore- Dinesh Trivedi - TMC
- Basirhat - Nusrat Jahan Ruhi - TMC
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS LIVE: BJP's Roopa Ganguly slams Trinamool
BJP leader Roopa Ganguly on Thursday said that BJP would have won more seats in West Bengal had Trinamool Congress (TMC) not resorted to violence and pressurise the masses in all the seven phases of elections in the state.
"People are tired of Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. Had the elections been held in a fair manner BJP would have won more than 30 seats here that is what Banerjee was afraid of, hence the violence in all seven phases," Ms Ganguly told ANI.
She asserted that BJP was afraid for the security of people in those constituencies where BJP performed exceptionally but could not secure a win because of TMC's goons.
"This is an election and there is no second winner here. We are afraid for the people from the places where BJP would not win despite performing well. I am afraid there could be a new surge of violence (by TMC) in those areas, it would be great for the safety of the people of the state if BJP takes a late lead in majority seats," she said.
Bengal Lok Sabha Election Results: Abhishek Banerjee in the lead
TMC's Abhishek Banerjee and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew is in the lead in Diamond Harbour.
BENGAL LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS: Candidates in the leadThe candidates leading in Bengal are: Prasun Banerjee, TMC, from Howrah, Mimi Chakraborty, TMC from Jadavpur, Dr Jayanta Kumar, BJP from Jalpaiguri, Khalilur Rahaman, TMC from Jangipur, Kunar Hembram, BJP, from Jhargram, Protima Mondal, TMC from Joynagar, Sisir Adhikari, TMC from Kanthi, Chandra Kumar Bose, BJP, Kolkata Dakshin, Sudip Bandopadhyay, TMC from Kolkata Uttar, Mohua Moitra, TMC from Krishnanagar, Abu Hasem, Congress, from Maldaha Dakshin.
Close Competition between BJP-Trinamool in Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced a huge challenge from the BJP in the state she has ruled since 2012. The BJP's performance shows the party has been able to make inroads in the state over the past few years.
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS LIVE: Candidates in the lead- John Barla, BJP, Alipurduars
- Aparupa Poddar (Afrin Ali), TMC, Arambag
- Babul Supriyo, BJP, Asansol
- Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress, Barhampur
- Chandan Mallick, BSP, Bangaon
BENGAL Lok Sabha Election Results: BJP, Trinamool neck-and-neck
Trinamool Congress is leading in 22 seats in Bengal, BJP in 17. Some time back, BJP had taken the lead.
Bengal Lok Sabha Election Results LIVE: Babul Supriyo, Locket Chatterjee: BJP stars in the leadBJP's Babul Supriyo
is leading by 3448 votes against Moon Moon Sen of Trinamool Congress from Asansol.
In Coochbehar Lok Sabha seat, Nishith Pramanik of the BJP is leading by 1225 votes against Trinamool candidate Paresh Chandra Adhikary.
BJP candidate Locket Chatterjee is leading by 2175 votes over AITC candidate Ratna De Nag in Hooghly parliamentary constituency, the trends suggest.
In Uluberia seat, Sajda Ahmed of the AITC is leading by 920 votes against Joy Banerjee of the BJP.
TMC leading in Basirhat
Nusrat Jahan, actor and Trinamool candidate leading in Basirhat.
Trinamool leading in 20 seats in Bengal
Babul Supriyo leading in Asansol:BJP's Babul Supriyo leading in Asansol, Trinamool's Moon Moon Sen trailing.
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS LIVE: Trinamool takes the lead, BJP trailing behind
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS LIVE: Close Competition between Trinamool and BJP
Neck-and-neck competition in Bengal as BJP and Trinamool lead in 5 seats each.
Bengal Election Results: Counting begins amid tight securityAround 25,000 personnel have been deployed to count votes in 379 counting halls, which are being guarded by 82 companies of Central forces.
Elections in the state were held in seven-phases beginning April 11, with 466 candidates, including 54 women, in the fray.
Besides imposing prohibitory order under section 144 within 100-metre radius of the counting venues, there will be a three-tier security cordon.
Only authorised persons will be allowed to enter the counting venues. For each of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies, there will be a counting observer to monitor the entire process.
Other than the returning officer, assistant returning officers and observers, no other people will be allowed to use mobile phones inside the counting venues.
A videographer will document the counting process in each counting centre.
All the counting centres have been kept under strict vigilance of CCTVs.
Lok Sabha Election Results 2019: How Votes Are Counted- For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission will tally vote count on EVMs with voter verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency.
- It will effectively mean that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20,600 such stations.
- In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final.
- The entire exercise of EVM-paper trail machine matching will take an additional four to five hours, poll body officials said.
Bengal Election Results: BJP leading in 3 seats in Bengal
In Bengal, BJP is leading in 3 seats, Trinamool Congress in 2.
Counting of votes for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections have begun across the country.
The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting.
Election Commission officials said results are expected only by late evening.
The fate of as many as 8,040 candidates will be decided today as the counting of votes begins now to elect the 17th Lok Sabha.
Bengal Results 2019: Voting in the state marred with violenceThe Election Commission on Monday imposed prohibitory orders in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, following violence in the area during the assembly by-election on Sunday, a senior official said.
Keeping in mind the "sensitive" situation in Bhatpara, it was decided to impose Section 144 of the CrPC, the EC official said.
The commission had sought a report from the district magistrate on Sunday's poll-related violence in Bhatpara.
The BJP had set a target of 23 seats in Bengal. Responding to the exit poll figures, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said they will exceed the party's target of 23 seats handsomely. "We have been targeting more than 50 per cent of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. One of the exit poll (AC Nielsen) have suggested we could get 16 and the TMC 24. Final verdict will give the opposite to this exit poll. We will exceed our target of minimum 23 seats handsomely," news agency IANS quoted Mr Ghosh as saying.
After the Exit polls predicted a 14-seat haul for the BJP in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had said, "I don't trust Exit Poll gossip. The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip. I appeal to all opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together," she tweeted.
The Trinamool chief has long supported unity among diverse political parties to defeat the BJP.
Counting of votes will begin at 8am today.
As many as 200 companies of central armed paramilitary forces (CAPFs) have been retained by the Commission in addition to the 82 CAPF companies deployed for guarding the strong rooms and counting centres.
Bengal Election Results: Over 25,000 personnel deployed for vote count in Bengal
Gearing up for the vote count, the Election Commission has earmarked 58 centres across the state, where 25,000 counting personnel have been deployed for deciphering the mandate that now lies sealed in the EVMs from 78,799 polling stations across 294 assembly segments, reported news agency IANS.
Mamata Banerjee, who harbours national ambition, has been fighting a pitched battle in the Bengal with the BJP targeting 23 of its 42 seats. Exit polls predicted a 14-seat win for BJP - up from two last time - in Bengal.