Exit polls released on Wednesday indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to take control of West Bengal in the 2026 Assembly elections, potentially unseating Mamata Banerjee and her party.
According to projections, pollsters suggest the BJP is on track to win a clear majority following the conclusion of voting earlier in the day, reports Times of India.
An exit poll conducted by Chanakya Strategies estimates the BJP will secure between 150 and 160 seats in the 294-member Assembly. In comparison, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, is projected to win between 130 and 140 seats. Other parties are expected to claim six to ten seats.
Similarly, projections from Matrize place the BJP ahead with 146 to 161 seats, while the TMC is forecast to win 125 to 140 seats. Minor parties are again expected to secure six to ten seats.
Meanwhile, an exit poll by Poll Diary gives the BJP a wider margin, projecting between 142 and 171 seats. The TMC is estimated to win between 99 and 127 seats, with other parties likely to take five to nine seats.
These projections follow the conclusion of the final phase of polling in the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly elections, which ended at 6pm (local time) on Wednesday. Voter turnout reached an impressive 90 percent before polling closed.
