West Bengal Election Results 2026 Live Updates: Vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections will begin on May 4, bringing an end to weeks of intense campaigning and high political stakes.

Voting for all 294 seats was held on April 9, and the state witnessed a record-breaking turnout. According to the Election Commission of India, overall voter participation stood at 92.47%, the highest ever recorded in any Assembly or Lok Sabha election in the state.

This massive turnout has made the results highly unpredictable. Interestingly, women voters outnumbered men, with a turnout of 93.24%, compared to 91.74% among male voters. The final results will decide which party forms the next government in the state.

What do exit polls predict?

Most exit polls have given an edge to the Bharatiya Janata Party over the ruling All India Trinamool Congress. However, predictions vary significantly across agencies. While some polls suggest a clear win for the BJP, others show a close contest. Peoples Pulse is one of the few that has predicted a victory for the TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, giving it 177-187 seats.

On the other hand, agencies like Matrize, Poll Diary, and P-Marq have projected a BJP win, with seat estimates ranging between 142 and 175. Praja Poll has given the BJP the highest projection, going up to 208 seats.

Why is there so much uncertainty?

One of the biggest takeaways from the exit polls is the wide variation in projections. The BJP's expected seat count ranges from as low as 95 to as high as over 170 seats. This shows both the party's rapid growth in the state and the uncertainty surrounding the final outcome.