TMC looks set to retain power for third time in West Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee may lose Nandigram battle to Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee looks set to retain power for a third straight term with her party Trinamool Congress crossing the halfway mark in the closely contested assembly election 2021 in the state, the trends suggested after early hours of counting of votes on Sunday (May 2, 2021).

The Trinamool Congress was currently leading in 194 seats, while the BJP was leading in 81 seats around 12 noon. Belying expectations of a tight contest, the TMC candidates appeared galloping to victory, and, if the current trends hold, the party will easily form its third successive government in the state. However, for the most part of early trends, both parties were neck and neck as the latest leads continue to come in.

However, the Chief Minister herself was trailing in Nandigram by over 8,000 votes, according to the trends. Banerjee has contesting against her BJP rival Suvendhu Adhikari, her ex-aide, whose December defection triggered a flood of exits from the Trinamool Congress.

Counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections began at 8 AM on Sunday amid strict health protocols, as it is taking place amid a raging second wave of COVID-19. People across the country have their eyes fixed on the West Bengal election 2021 results as the BJP looks to break into the Opposition’s last bastion in the East.

The early trends showed that though chief minister Mamata Banerjee was trailing behind BJP`s Suvendu Adhikary in Nandigram, the ruling Trinamool Congress is having an edge over the BJP. The initial trends of 292 seats show that the Trinamool is leading in 194 seats while the BJP was leading in 81 seats and the Congress + on 1 seats.

The 2021 assembly election has been a major test for the ruling Trinamool Congress as the saffron brigade had put in all its might to make its footmark for the first time in West Bengal. But if early trends are taken as an indication, then Mamata Banerjee seems to have an edge over her rival.