Mamata Takes Bengal by Storm, TMC Workers Torch CPI(M) Office

Catch all the live updates from the counting day in West Bengal.

TMC supremo has outdone herself compared to her 2011 performance. (Photo: The Quint)

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(Photo: The Quint)

Also read: Bengal, TN, Kerala, Assam 2016: See All Counting Day Results Here

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 10:51 PM

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 11:04 PM

(Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 6:44 PM

(Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 6:44 PM

After her sweeping win in 2011, Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee has yet again rocked the West Bengal Assembly elections, becoming the Chief Minister of the state for a second term.

She announced that she will take her oath on 27 May, adding that there will be a session in the state assembly before 29 May.

Although the TMC enjoyed a massive victory, the entire Darjeeling district steered clear of the party, as Bimal Gurung’s GJM swept Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

After the victorious feat, TMC members wrecked an CPI(M) office in Asansol district where the latter lost by a huge margin.

General Secretary of CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury, said in a tweet that the party has accepted the peoples’ verdict with humility. Referring to the several instances of violence that took place in the course of the election, he said that the Left will counter the politics of terror.

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 10:51 PM

West Bengal Assembly Elections: Counting Day

• Mamata Banerjee’s TMC performs better than 2011 (184) as she crosses 200 seats.
  
• Leading in over 200 seats of the 294 Assembly seats, the TMC has over 3 times more seats than the Left alliance.
  
• CPI(M) WB secretary and Leader of Opposition Suryakanta Mishra trailing in Narayangarh.
  
• Madan Mitra takes a massive lead in Kamariti.
  
• Three major players: TMC, CPI(M)-Congress, and the BJP.
  
• Celebrity candidates Rupa Ganguly (BJP) and Bhaichung Bhutia (TMC) trailing as of now.
  

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 6:03 PM

Will Accept People’s Verdict with Humility: Yechury

General Secretary of CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet that the party has accepted people’s verdict with humility.

As for the people we salute them who withstood intimidation during the elections. We want to counter this politics of terror. We lost four of our comrades in this process. Today too there were incidents of violence. The entry of the BJP has been marked. An analysis of the seats clearly show that there has been a vote transfer. 

<b>Sitaram Yechury</b>

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 11:05 PM

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 2:46 PM

TMC Members Vandalise CPI(M) Office

Members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) wrecked the office of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Asansol district after the latter lost by a huge margin.

TMC members vandalise CPI(M) office in Asansol after the counting ended in 294 constituencies of West Bengal on Thursday, 19 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

TMC members vandalise CPI(M) office in Asansol after the counting ended in 294 constituencies of West Bengal on Thursday, 19 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 3:22 PM

TMC Couldn’t Capture the Hills

Although Mamata Banerjee is enjoying the massive victory, the entire Darjeeling district has steered clear of TMC as Bimal Gurung’s GJM has swept Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Even towards the plains, the celebrity candidates could not secure TMC’s position.

In Siliguri former captain of Indian football team Bhaichung Bhutia was trailing behind CPI(M) candidate Ashok Bhattacharya.

Watch The Quint’s interview of Bhaichung Bhutia:

The Quint also spoke to Bhutia at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) in January 2016.

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 2:46 PM

Mamata Banerjee Announces Victory

Incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, announced the date of on which she will take oath, 27 May.

Speaking to the media, she has also said that there will be a session in the state Assembly before 29 May.

People of West Bengal have rejected (opposition’s) attempts to mislead them, and their conspiracies. People have ignored the smear campaigns and have voted for us.&nbsp;

Also read: Maa, Mati, Manush: Mamata Reclaims Her Success Mantra

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 1:53 PM

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PM Modi Congratulates Mamata Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Mamata Banerjee for her for the massive victory and her second term as chief minister of West Bengal.

He also called J Jayalalithaa who has also registered a massive victory in Tamil Nadu, ensuing another term as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

I laud the efforts of our Karyakartas in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. They put up a spirited performance and will continue to raise people’s issues there. I thank the people of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala for their support and assure them we will always work hard and serve them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 11:44 AM

Celebration in West Bengal

People celebrate outside Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata after she leads in over 210 seats on Thursday, 19 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 1:58 PM

BJP Leads and Trails

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose, Bhabanipur - TRAILING

BJP State President Dilip Ghosh, Kharagpur- LEADING

Actor Locket Chatterjee, Mayureswar- TRAILING

Actor Joy Banerjee, Suri- TRAILING

Former State BJP Chief Rahul Sinha, Jorasanko- LEADING

Actor Roopa Ganguly, Howrah North- TRAILING

Only BJP MLA in outgoing Assembly Samik Bhattacharya, Basirhat Dakshin- TRAILING

TMC Leads and Trails

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bhabanipur- LEADING

Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Khardaha- LEADING

Football star Bhaichung Bhutia, Siliguri- TRAILING

Education minister Partha Chatterjee, Behala West- LEADING

Lok Sabha MP from Tamluk Suvendu Adhikari, Nandigram- LEADING

Cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Howrah North- LEADING

Actor Soham Chakraborty, Barjora- TRAILING

North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, Dabgram-Fulbari- LEADING

Wife of TMC MP Sudip Banerjee Nayna Bandopadhyay- LEADING

Daughter-in-law of late Union minister Ajit Kumar Panja and Women development Minister Sashi Panja, Shyampukur- LEADING

Saradha chit fund scam accused and jailed TMC leader Madan Mitra, Kamarhati- TRAILING

Former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Behala East- LEADING

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 6:03 PM

Major Trends

CPI(M) State secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra, Narayangarh is TRAILING

Former Minister and Veteran CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya, Siliguri is LEADING

CPI(M) leader and former minister Kanti Ganguly, Raidighi is TRAILING

Former union minister from Congress Deepa Dasmunshi, Bhawanipur is TRAILING

WB Congress president Manas Bhunia, Sabang is LEADING

Veteran Congress leader Somen Mitra, Chowringhee is TRAILING

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 10:27 AM

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 10:07 AM

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 9:05 AM

Counting Begins

The counting has begun in the five state including West Bengal. The three major fronts fighting for the chief minister’s office are TMC, the CPI(M)-Congress alliance , and the BJP.

Security outside the counting centre in West Bengal. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 10:59 AM

West Bengal BJP Chief Confident of Two-Digit Win

The West Bengal chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dilip Ghosh is confident that his party will break the TMC stronghold and score its maiden win in the state.

The vote percentage and out seat number will reach two digits. We were struggling to start our footing here. We will begin our foundation with this election. I am from Midnapur and I must begin from here. The seat in Kharagpur is a challenge for us.

Dilip Ghosh, West Bengal BJP President

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 8:15 AM

CEC Zaidi Takes a Dig at Mamata Banerjee

The Chief Election Commissioner, Nasim Zaidi, has inaugurated the counting day with a comment on Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee.

Draw satisfaction that elections were largely peaceful. I want to thank voters and political parties. We were discharging our duties, if someone criticized us then its their outlook.&nbsp;

Nasim Zaidi, Chief Election Commissioner

After her sweeping win in 2011, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee is fighting for another term in the chief minister’s office.

Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 8:06 AM

(Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:18th May, 2016 at 10:30 PM

The West Bengal Assembly is 294-seat strong with 68 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 16 received for Scheduled Tribes (ST).

A 65,546,101-strong electorate cast their votes in six phases between 4 April and 5 May.

Also read: West Bengal Exit Polls Predict Mamata Banerjee’s Smooth Comeback

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] had governed the state for 34 years before Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Mamata Banerjee took over as the Chief Minister of the state in 2011.

The Left and Congress went into a pre-poll alliance, popularly called the Jot in order to defeat the TMC. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads the central governing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also competing in the polls.

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Updated at:19th May, 2016 at 7:16 AM