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Stay at counting centres: Mamata Banerjee's SOS message as BJP leads in Bengal elections
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Trinamool Congress workers to stay at counting centres after EC trends indicated BJP leading. She claimed counting had been stopped at around 100 places and said 100 seats where TMC is ahead were not being revealed, while accusing the BJP and Centre of vote manipulation.
Why It Matters
The appeal highlights concerns about transparency in the vote-counting process in a high-stakes state election and could influence on-site tensions at counting centres.
Timeline
2 Events
Mamata Banerjee urges staying at counting centres as counting continues
May 4, 2026
In a video message issued on X as ECI trends showed BJP leading in the West Bengal assembly results, Banerjee urged TMC agents and workers to stay at counting centres. She claimed counting had been stopped at around 100 places, and that there are around 100 seats in which TNMC is ahead, but it is not being revealed. She also alleged that the BJP and Centre have 'looted votes in the name of SIR.'
Earlier statement referenced by Banerjee: claim that BJP would lead after 2-3 rounds
May 3, 2026
Mamata Banerjee, in a message on X, said 'As I said yesterday, they would show BJP in the lead after 2-3 rounds,' referring to an earlier remark about counting trends.