There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts.
The counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats is underway in West Bengal amid tight security, officials said.
The Trinamool Congress is leading in nearly 18,000 seats. Its nearest rival BJP is leading in more than 4,000 out of 63,229 seats, according to the latest declarations.
There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts.
"The counting, which began at 8 am, is likely to continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled. We are hopeful that a trend will be available by the end of the day," an SEC official said.
All the counting venues will be manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents.
Here are the Highlights Bengal rural poll counting:
The Trinamool Congress is leading in nearly 18,000 seats. Its nearest rival BJP is leading in more than 4,000 out of 63,229 seats, according to the latest declarations.
The Trinamool Congress is leading in nearly 15,000 seats. Its nearest rival BJP is leading in more than 3,000 out of 63,229 seats as of 3.30 pm, according to the latest declarations.
Trinamool dominates Bengal rural polls by bagging over 12,518 seats, maintains strong leadAccording to the latest declarations by the State Election Commission, the TMC has won in 12,518 gram panchayat seats and is leading in 3,620 seats. Its nearest rival BJP has won in 2,781 seats and is leading in 915 seats out of 63,229 seats as of 3.30pm.
The Left Front has won in 959 seats out of which the CPI(M) alone has won in 910 seats. The party is curently leading in 550 seats. The Congress won 625 seats and is leading in 276.
Other parties which included the newly formed ISF won 219 seats and led in 70 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 718 seats and led in 216 seats.
Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats which besides the gram panchayat seats, also includes 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats, began at 8 am on Tuesday peacefully amid tight security, officials said.
Bombs Go Off Outside A Counting Centre In BengalViolence, which has been part of this year's panchayat elections in West Bengal since before they were announced, continued to mar the process even on counting day today, with crude bombs going off near one counting centre and the police resorting to a lathicharge at another.
Counting of votes for the panchayat elections began earlier today under increased security and the watchful eye of central forces. Despite these precautions, however, there were reports of crude bombs exploding outside a centre at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas. There was no confirmation of any injuries.
West Bengal panchayat election | As per counting of votes till 2.30 pm -
TMC wins 8232 seats and leads on 2712
BJP wins 1714 seats and leads on 734
Congress wins 362 seats and leads on 215
Trinamool Congress dominates West Bengal rural polls by leading in over 3,700 seats, maintains strong lead
Marching ahead of its rivals, the Trinamool Congress secured victory in over 3,700 gram panchayat seats and was leading in another 3,167 seats in West Bengal, while the opposition BJP bagged 673 seats and led in 782 others out of 63,229 gram panchayat seats across the state, according to data released by the State Election Commission.
The CPI(M) has won 241 seats and is currently leading in over 627 gram panchayat (GP) seats, followed by its ally Congress which won 107 GP seats and was leading in 241 others, it said.
Trinamool Leads In Early Trends
Early trends indicate that the Trinamool Congress is leading in over 2,229 gram panchayat seats in West Bengal while the BJP is ahead in 664 seats, State Election Commission officials said on Tuesday.
The CPI(M) is currently leading in over 460 gram panchayat seats followed by its ally Congress in 168, they said. The ruling TMC is also leading in 28 seats of gram samities, SEC officials said.
Services Affected In Kolkata As migrants Return To Villages For Rural Polls
Services were affected in Kolkata as migrants employed in sectors ranging from domestic work to hospitality and transport went to their homes in villages to cast their vote in the West Bengal panchayat elections, and many are yet to rejoin work.
Commuters also faced a harrowing time as many buses and other vehicles were requisitioned for election duty. Restaurants and street food joints were also affected due to the exercise.
Shiladitya Choudhury, owner of a chain of restaurants in the city, said, "On the polling day on Saturday (July 8), we barely managed with only around 40 per cent of the staffers. We had kept our menu short on that day."
Owner of a roadside eatery in Salt Lake Sector V, the IT hub of the city, said pressure had mounted on his stall not only because some of his workers had left but also because other nearby shacks were shut.