Daijiworld Media Network - Murshidabad
Murshidabad, May 4: As counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced on Monday morning, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir urged all stakeholders to ensure a smooth and trouble-free process under the supervision of the Election Commission.
Voting results from the two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal began being counted at 8 a.m., starting with postal ballots before moving on to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Speaking to reporters, Kabir said that polling had been conducted peacefully and praised the arrangements made by the Election Commission of India for the counting process. He stressed that the entire exercise should remain fair, transparent, and free of disruption.
He added that election officials must ensure that counting is conducted safely and efficiently so that voters receive a clear and credible mandate. Kabir also expressed confidence that the final outcome would be positive, regardless of political outcomes.
This election cycle includes counting in 293 out of 294 constituencies, as repolling has been ordered in the Falta Assembly segment of South 24 Parganas district. The repoll is scheduled for May 21, with results expected on May 24.
The Election Commission has introduced a revised counting procedure this time. Postal ballots will be counted exclusively for the first 30 minutes, after which EVM counting will run simultaneously. In cases where postal ballot counting lags behind, EVM counting may be briefly paused to ensure completion before final rounds.
Officials said the new system is designed to streamline the process and provide a clearer trend of results by midday.
The political contest in the state remains primarily between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. In the previous 2021 elections, TMC secured 216 seats while the BJP won 77, with smaller parties sharing the remainder.
The Left Front and Congress, which failed to win any seats in the last election, are contesting separately this time, hoping to regain political ground in the state.
The elections were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, witnessing a high voter turnout of nearly 93 percent. While most exit polls had predicted a change in government, the final outcome now depends on the ongoing counting process.