West Bengal Lok Sabha Election 2024 Exit Poll HIGHLIGHTS: Modi-led BJP set to breach Mamata's fortress

As the 7th Phase of polling in General Elections 2024 wraps up, the Election Commission of India thanks all stakeholders: voters, polling personnel, security forces, media and political parties.

Basirhat, West Bengal: The polling party sealed the EVMs as the voting for the Lok Sabha elections concluded.

7-phase Lok Sabha elections conclude; Counting of votes on June 4.

"INDIA Alliance is getting 295+ seats and the BJP will win around 220 seats," Kejriwal said after the Opposition meeting.

West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout among the 8 states/UTs that went to Lok Sabha polls in the last phase on Saturday. According to the ECI data till 5 pm, West Bengal saw 69.89 per cent voter turnout. These are approximate numbers and actual figures will be declared by the ECI later.

There are 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats, while the BJP sprung a major surprise, winning 18 seats. The Congress won the remaining two seats. The BJP dramatically increased their seats from only two in 2014 to 18 in 2019.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) emerged victorious, securing victories in 34 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only 2 seats. The Indian National Congress won 4 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) secured victories in 2 seats.

In various constituencies across the state, notable candidates include Abhishek Banerjee from Diamond Harbour for TMC, Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar for TMC, Amrita Roy from Krishnanagar for BJP, and Abhijit Gangopadhyay from Tamluk for BJP. Additionally, Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur for TMC, Nirmal Kumar Saha from Baharampur for BJP, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur for Congress are prominent. 

From Kolkata Uttar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay is representing TMC, Tapas Roy from BJP, and Pradip Bhattacharya is from Congress. In Asansol, Shatrughan Sinha is a Congress candidate, while in Balurghat, Sukanta Majumdar is running for BJP, and Biplab Mitra is for TMC.

The main political parties in the state are the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and a coalition of the Left Front and Congress.

"The decision is that we must be very alert during the counting process. We must alert our counting agents how they must be vigilant... On this issue, we are likely to meet the election commission. Once the election commission gives the time tomorrow, our leaders will meet the EC," CPI General Secretary D Raja said after the INDIA bloc leaders meet.

"After taking feedback from everywhere, we believe that the INDIA bloc will win more than 295 seats, while the BJP will get around 220 seats. The NDA, meanwhile, will get around 235 seats," Kejriwal said after the Opposition meeting.

INDIA bloc parties have sought time from EC on Sunday for steps to be taken during counting of votes: Kharge said after opposition meeting in Delhil.

"We will get 295+. INDIA (Alliance) is winning. We will decide later (on PM's face)... Their (BJP's) film of '400 paar' became a flop in the first phase itself," Tejashwi Yadav said.

"In Uttar Pradesh, all seats of the BJP will be lost and the INDIA alliance will win the most seats. There was an earthquake of unemployment, price rise, GST, CBI, ED and Income Tax. All of these earthquakes will end," Akhilesh Yadav said after the INDIA alliance leaders meet in Delhi.

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning his meditation session in Kanyakumari into a media spectacle funded by taxpayers' money. Banerjee said meditation is a personal practice beneficial for body, mind, and soul but cautioned against making it a public show. "You (journalists), me and everybody can meditate. No issue. It is good for one's body, mind and soul. But please don't make it a media spectacle, don't sit for meditation in full glare of camera," Banerjee told reporters after casting his vote.

Widespread violence between TMC and BJP supporters over alleged electoral malpractices was reported during polling in the strife-torn Sandeshkhali region of Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday, resulting in numerous injuries. Police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas shelling to control the situation. In the remaining eight parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal, which went to the polls in the seventh and final phase, sporadic incidents of violence were reported.

To maintain law and order, the Election Commission has decided to retain 400 companies of central forces in West Bengal till June 6, a senior official said. "After the June 1 polling, half of the central forces will leave the state and 400 companies will remain until June 6. Battalions of the BSF, CRPF, and SSB will be retained," he said.

"Today, we held our meeting for at least 2.5 hours, in which we discussed a range of issues, especially elections and what all challenges we might face. We also discussed the care to be taken on the day of counting," Kharge said after the conclusion of INDIA bloc meeting.

Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the media after the conclusion of Opposition meeting in Delhi and claimed that the I.N.D.I.A bloc will secure at least 295 seats in the Lok Sabha Elections.

INDIA alliance leaders gathered and showed victory sign as their meeting concluded at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The top brass of all the constuitient parties including Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JMM, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) reached Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi to attend the meeting. However, the TMC and PDP skipped the opposition meet.

"INDIA parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls. After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening," Congress leader Pawan Khera tweeted.

The I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders met in Delhi and decided that all the I.N.D.I.A parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television today evening.

"Today, I exercised my right to vote, fulfilling the most important civic duty we all share. I urge you to cast your vote and make your voices heard. For all the deprivation, empty promises, falsehoods, pain, and hate, today is your day to answer.," he posted on X after casting his vote in the last phase of West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections.

West Bengal topped among the 8 states/UTs that went to polls in the sixth phase. Bengal saw the voter turnout of 82.71 per cent. 8 seats in West Bengal went to polls in this phase -- Bankura (80.75 per cent), Bishnupur (85.91 per cent), Ghatal (82.17 per cent), Jhargram (83.47 per cent), Kanthi (84.77 per cent), Medinipur (81.56 per cent), Purulia (78.39 per cent), Tamluk (84.79 per cent).

West Bengal recorded the highest voting percentage among the eight states/UTs going to polls in the fifth phase. West Bengal saw a turnout of 78.45 per cent. 7 seats went to polls in this phase -- Arambagh (82.62 per cent), Bangaon (81.04 per cent), Barrackpur (75.41 per cent), Hooghly (81.38 per cent), Howrah (71.73 per cent), Srerampur (76.44 per cent), Uluberia (79.78 per cent).

West Bengal recorded over 80 per cent turnout with 80.22 per cent of voters casting their vote in the fourth phase. Eight seats went to polls in the fourth phase -- Asansol (73.27 per cent), Baharampur (77.54 per cent), Bardhaman Purba (82.85 per cent), Bardhaman-durgapur (80.72 per cent), Birbhum (81.91 per cent), Bolpur (82.66 per cent), Krishnanagar (80.96 per cent), Ranaghat (81.87 per cent).

West Bengal witnessed a voter turnout of 77.53 per cent in the third phase. Four seats went to polls -- Janglpur (75.72 per cent), Maldaha Dakshin (76.69 per cent), Maldaha Uttar (76.03 per cent), and Murshidabad (81.52 per cent).

In the second phase of polling, the state recorded 76.58 per cent of voter turnout. Three seats went to polls -- Balurghat (79.09 per cent), Darjeeling (74.76 per cent), and Raiganj (76.18 per cent).

West Bengal has been witnessing a high voting percentage among all states/UTs going to polls this time. In the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, Bengal recorded a whopping 81.91 per cent polling. Three seats went to polls -- Alipurduar (79.76 per cent), Coochbehar (82.16 per cent), Jalpaiguri (83.66 per cent).

West Bengal voted in all seven phases of Lok Sabha elections 2024 starting April 19 to June 1.

"BJP govt has gone and govt of INDIA alliance is about to come," he said.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee showed victory sign after casting her vote at a polling booth in Kolkata. This is the last phase of elections. The results of the elections will be declared on June 4.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee greeted and interacted with people before casting her vote at a polling booth in Kolkata today.

The Exit Poll numbers of West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be out after 6.30 pm, as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India. The voting in the seventh and final phase of general elections will conclude at 6 pm on Saturday.

West Bengal recorded 49.68 per cent of voting till 3 pm in the seventh and final phase of polling on Saturday (June 1), according to the Election Commission data.

Leaders of the I.N.D.I.A bloc meet on Saturday to discuss their strategy for the counting of votes on June 4. The top brass of all the constuitient parties including Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JMM, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) reached Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi to attend the meeting. However, the TMC and PDP skipped the opposition meet. The meeting is crucial as the seven-phased world's largest electoral exercise comes to an end today and the results are to be declared on June 4.

The voting for the remaining 9 seats is underway in West Bengal. The voting began at 7 am on Saturday and will go on till 6 pm. Today is the last phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. The results of the ongoing general elections will be out on June 4.