West Bengal Assembly Election Results 2016: As it happened

Final tally (294 seats):

Bharatiya Janata Party - 3. Communist Party of India - 1. Communist Party of India (Marxist) - 26. Indian National Congress - 44. All India Forward Bloc - 2. All India Trinamool Congress - 211. Revolutionary Socialist Party - 3. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha - 3. Independent - 1. 

Latest trends in West Bengal as per Election Commission at 7.42 pm:

Latest trends in West Bengal as per Election Commission at 7 pm:

Former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra, jailed in the Saradha chit fund scam, defeated by CPI-M`s Manash Mukherjee by over 4,000 votes in Kamarahati constituency in North 24 Parganas.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh beats sitting Congress MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal from Kharagpur Sadar seat in West Midnapore district by 6,309 votes.

Aged 91, Sohanpal is the seniormost member of the outgoing Assembly.

"We humbly accept the verdict. We extend our best wishes for good governance and pro-development policies to the winners -- the Left Front in Kerala, AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, BJP in Assam," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

"I think this understanding between the Left and the Congress did not work. We could together get only 35-36 per cent of votes. Somehow, I think the votes might not have got transferred," said CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy.

Latest trends in West Bengal as per Election Commission: 

TMC's Bhaichung Bhutia trails in Siliguri, Congress leading in Murshidabad

Mamata's Trinamool way ahead of its rivals, leading in 83 seats

Mamata Banerjee leads in Bhabanipur, BJP's Chandra Bose trailing

TMC marching ahead, Mamata leading in Bhabanipur by 1499 votes

Mamata set for a landslide win, Congress to get more seats than Left

BJP's Chandra Bose closes gap in Bhawanipore against Mamata

Celebrations erupt outside Mamata's residence as TMC leads in 211 seats

Trinamool supporters rejoice as trends signal big win for Mamata Banerjee

PM Modi congratulates Mamata as TMC looks set for big win

Mamata's TMC set to get two-third majority, BJP's 'Netaji' card fails

It's a phenomenal victory, slender campaign against TMC failed: Mamata

It's a phenomenal victory, says Mamata; to take oath on May 27

Mamata to take oath on May 27, says ready for a 'role' at Centre

In Jorasanko constituency of north Kolkata, where the Vivekananda flyover collapse killed 26 people on March 31, Trinamool's Smita Bakshi won by a margin of 6,290 votes defeating senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha. Trinamool minister Javed Ahmed Khan won from Kasba by 11,884 votes against CPI-M's Shatarup Ghosh.

In the hills of Kalimpong, GJM leader Sarita Rai won by 11,431 votes against sitting MLA Harka Bahadur Chettri, who had resigned from GJM and was fighting as an Independent, supported by Trinamool.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury, who was contesting for Mangalkot seat on a Trinamool ticket, also won by 11,874 votes, TMC MP Suvendu Adhikari won by a heavy margin of 81,230 votes against his nearest Left Front rival Abdul Kabir Seikh.

West Bengal Finance and Industry Minister Amit Mitra retained his Khardaha seat by defeating CPI(M)'s Asim Kumar Dasgupta by 21,200 vote, former Bengal cricket captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla won the Howrah North seat on a Trinamool ticket by defeating his nearest rival Santosh Kumar Pathak of Congress by 26,959 votes.

State Tribal Affairs Minister and Trinamool candidate Sukumar Hansda retained his Jhargram seat in the Left-Wing Extremism affected area by a heavy margin of 55,228 votes. His nearest rival in the tribal belt was famous Santhali actress Birbaha Hansda who got 44,005 votes in her favour as Jharkhand Party (Naren faction) candidate.

Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya's daughter Baishali won Bally constituency in Howrah district on Trinamool ticket. She defeated her nearest rival Saumendranath Bera of the CPI-M by 15,403 votes. Trinamool leader and state Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee won comfortably by 36,532 votes from Baruipur Paschim seat.

Footballer Dipendu Biswas, who was fielded by the TMC from South Basirhat seat, defeated BJP's only sitting MLA Samik Bhattacharya by over 24,000 votes. Trinamool leader Abdur Razzak Mollah, who had allegedly used derogatory language against actress-turned-BJP leader Roopa Ganguly during electioneering, won Bhangar seat in South 24 Parganas district.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulates Mamata Banerjee over TMC's impressive victory in polls.

Congratulations Didi for stupendous victory...

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 19, 2016

In West Bengal, we expected to do better: Jairam Ramesh, Congress.

TMC's impressive victory has boosted Mamata Banerjee's prospects as possible Third Front PM candidate, say analysts.

1.00 pm: Here is the party-wise tally at this point of time: - TMC is leading in 217 and has won 8 seats, CPM+ in 28, Congress on 4 seats, BJP in 5, Others in 3.

If a party loses its ideology, it loses everything. CPI(M)-Congress have lost everything: Mamata Banerjee.

Tomorrow we have called a meeting of all the newly-elected MLAs at 12:30 PM: CM Mamata Banerjee.

I am an ordinary person, willing to offer my services to the country: Mamata.

There is no corruption in West Bengal. It is a 'corruption-less' state: Mamata.

Lets see what happens: Mamata on whether she would be a part of a non-BJP and non-Congress alliance in future.

We will take oath on May 27. A session of Assembly will be called before May 29: Mamata.

Thankfully, the national media is not biased: TMC chief.

I want to thank EC as despite several problems, elections were conducted peacefully: Mamata Banerjee.

We fought alone this time. Last elections, Trinamool had won 184 seats in alliance. This time, Opposition was united against us: CM.

A smear campaign was launched against us for last 2 years but we're thankful to people for rejecting such campaigns and giving us victory: WB CM.

Attempts to mislead and create an atmosphere of fear among people were made but they voted peacefully, fearlessly: WB CM

Will work to take Bengal on path of progress: Mamata.

Its a phenomenal victory. Want to thank the people of Bengal for giving us a huge victory: Mamata.

Slender campaign by our rivals has failed again: Mamata.

People have backed us for work again, says Mamata.

Mamata Banerjee addressing a press conference.

Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee addressing media after trends show her winning #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/YBHAhUnzCy

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2016

A visibly happy Mamata Banerjee clicked with relatives outside her residence after results indicated massive win for TMC.

West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development Sashi Panja wins Shyampur seat from Kolkata.

TMC candidate and former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla is ahead in Howrah Uttar seat by a margin of 1,266 votes.

Former state BJP president and national secretary Rahul Sinha is leading from Jorasakho constituency by 1,839 votes, where the collapse of a flyover on March 31 had killed several people.

State Food Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick is leading by 3,164 votes from Habra seat.
 

Actor-politician Locket Chatterjee is leading in Mayureshwar, while Jagmohan Dalmiya's daughter Baishali Dalmiya is leading from Bally in Howrah.

In Bardhaman district, TMC and CPI (M) supporters clashed with each other. Some of the houses of Left supporters were allegedly ransacked by the TMC cadres.

BJP's star campaigner and actor-politician Rupa Ganguly is trailing from North Howrah constituency.

BJP candidate is leading in Jorasanko, where flyover collapse had become an election issue.

PM Modi congratulates Mamata Banerjee for her party's impressive victory in West Bengal.

Spoken to @MamataOfficial ji & congratulated her on the impressive victory. My best wishes to her as she begins her 2nd term.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2016

TMC supporters chant 'Thanda thanda cool, cool; ghore ghore Trinamool' as trends signal Mamata's return in West Bengal.

TMC workers begin celebrating party's stupendous performance in assembly polls.

Celebrations erupt outside Mamata Banerjee's residence after early trends show her leading by over 3000 votes in Bhawanipore.

Kolkata: Celebrations outside Mamata Banerjee's residence after early trends show her leading by over 3000 votes pic.twitter.com/302uF0Y5cu

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2016

10.20 am: Trends available for 294/294, TMC 217, Left + 65, BJP 8.

Mamata Banerjee takes big lead of over 3000 votes over BJP's Chandra Bose in Bhawanipore.

BJP's Chandra Bose closes gap in Bhabanipur seat, Mamata now leading by 158 votes.

Saradha Chitfund scam accused TMC's Madan Mitra leading in Kamarhati.

Congress to get more seats than Left in West Bengal.

Mamata set for a landslide win as Trinamool Congress marches ahead in West Bengal.

9.54 am: Trends available for 283/294 seats, TMC leading in 207, Left +63, BJP 8, Others 5.

Chandra Bose, grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, trailing in Bhawanipore constituency.

9.40 am: Trends available for 283/294 seats, TMC 204, Left+ 66, BJP 8, Others 5.

BJP all set to make a debut in West Bengal Assembly Election 2016.

Mamata Banerjee leading with 1,499 votes in Bhawanipore after completion of round 1.

9. 35 am: TMC leading in 124, Left alliance in 34, BJP in 3.

BJP's Chandra Bose in third position in Bhabanipur constituency in West Bengal, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee leading.

9.31 am: Trends available for 250/294 seats, TMC 171, Left+ 68, BJP 8, Others 3.

TMC's candidate from Siliguri Bhaichung Bhutia trails CPIM candidate Ashok Bhattacharya by 1373 votes.

9.20 am: Trends available for 228/294 seats; TMC 146, Left+75 l BJP 4, Others 3.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh leading in Kharagpur Sadar seat, Congress ahead in all 3 seats in Murshidabad.

9.10 am: Trends available for 188/294 seats, TMC 121, Left+ 60, BJP 4, Others 3.

9.05 am: Trends available for 168/294 seats; TMC 107, Left+ 57, BJP 2, Others 2.

9 am: According to latest EC data after first round of counting TMC leading in 13 seats, Left alliance in 9, BJP in 1.

8.58 am: Trends available for 121/294; TMC 80, Left+ 38, BJP 2, Others 1.

8.55 am: Trends available for 104/294, TMC 66 l Left+ 35 l BJP 2 l Others 1.

8.50 am: Latest EC data from postal ballots claim TMC leading on 11 seats, Left on 8 seats, BJP on 1 seat in West Bengal.

Trends available at 8.45 am – (81/294), TMC 54, Left+ 24, BJP 2, Others 1.

Trends available at 8.30 am – (37/294), TMC leading in 27, Left+ 9, BJP 1

Trends available - (25/294) - TMC leading in 20, Left+ 4, BJP 1.

Trends available - (10/294) - TMC 9, Left+ 0, BJP 1

Trends available for 5 out of 294 seats in West Bengal: TMC 4, Left+ 0, BJP 1

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According to the Election Commission, engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) would be present in the counting centres to immediately provide technical assistance in the event of malfunctioning of EVMs.

Also of keen interest would be the performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had polled a surprising 17 percent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

However, the opposition has chosen to differ, arguing that the fear factor that prevails in the state -- known for its history of political violence -- makes it unlikely for voters to have spoken candidly about their preference to surveyors.

Also Read: Assembly Election results 2016 LIVE: Counting of votes in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry begins  

While the Trinamool tom-tommed its infrastructural projects and welfare schemes, the opposition hit back with missiles like the Narada sting and Saradha scams and the flyover collapse in the city that claimed 26 lives.

Besides the Left front Congress tie-up, that brought together Marxist veteran and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on the same stage, the polls also saw corruption emerge as a central issue.

A three-tier security has been put in place at the counting centres. A total of 294 counting observers have been deployed and 78 companies of central forces are on vigil to prevent any breach of peace.

Around 82.80 percent of the total 6.55 crore electorate had exercised their franchise across 77,247 polling stations in the elections held over six phases on seven dates from April 4 to May 5.

The fate of 1,961 candidates, including 198 women, now lies stored in 77,413 electronic voting machines, that would be opened one by one after counting commences across 90 centres at 8 am.

Exit polls have predicted that the Trinamool will retain power, with different agencies putting the majority figure ranging from a slender 155 to a huge 253 in the 294-member house.

One of the most keenly observed political battles in the country, the polls in West Bengal have acquired an extra dimension this time, with arch-rivals the Congress and the CPI-M-spearheaded Left Front stitching an alliance to throw a strong challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee.