Kolkata: West Bengal woke up to a high-voltage political showdown on Monday as counting for 293 Assembly seats began under a cloud of tension, tight security, and serious concerns flagged by the Election Commission.
With storm warnings, explosive political rhetoric, and memories of past violence hanging heavy, the day promises to be anything but routine.
The Commission has zeroed in on two major flashpoints: victory rallies turning violent and power outages disrupting counting centres.
While no blanket ban has been imposed on post-result celebrations, a stern warning has gone out: any sign of unrest will invite immediate crackdown.
The anxiety isn't unfounded. A chilling reminder comes from last year's Kaliganj bypoll, where an eight-year-old girl was killed in a bomb blast allegedly linked to a victory procession. That shadow looms large today.
Adding to the tension is the fear of blackouts. The ghost of Nandigram 2021 still lingers, where allegations of manipulated counting amid load shedding sparked a political storm, a case still pending before the Calcutta High Court.
With weather alerts predicting thunderstorms across districts, authorities are scrambling to ensure uninterrupted power, holding emergency coordination meetings with all agencies.
On the political front, it's a war of confidence and calculation. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is projecting a landslide, confidently claiming the 200+ mark and a comfortable return to power.
BJP, however, is betting big on a surprise upset, insisting that a regime change is within reach. The Left-Congress alliance, battered in recent elections, is desperate to claw back relevance and break its electoral drought.
Behind the scenes, both camps are in full battle mode.
Mamata Banerjee held a late-night strategy huddle at her Kalighat residence, issuing last-minute instructions to counting agents, from closely tracking EVM data uploads to avoiding food from unknown sources. Over 40 observers have been deployed across districts to monitor every round.
Her challenger in Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari, struck a confident tone after offering prayers, warning that counting will be slow but tightly monitored. "Stay alert," he told party agents, predicting the BJP would cross the magic figure.
Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury upped the ante, alleging that disruptions could be engineered if the ruling party senses defeat, particularly in Murshidabad.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim raised an alarm after VVPAT slips were found scattered in Noapara, questioning the integrity of the strong room security.
The BJP, too, has activated a war-room setup, with control centres in Kolkata and Delhi and central leaders overseeing district-level operations.
State president Samik Bhattacharya struck a measured note, urging restraint and insisting that post-result violence must not repeat past scars.
As the first rounds unfold, early trends are expected by noon, though delays remain likely due to stricter verification protocols and multi-layered counting processes. For now, Bengal holds its breath.
Between claims of landslides, whispers of upsets, and fears of unrest, the battle for power has entered its most volatile phase.