May 04, Kathmandu - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surged ahead in the initial stages of vote counting in West Bengal's assembly elections, according to early reports. Since counting began at 8 a.m. on Monday, BJP is leading in 155 seats, signaling a significant breakthrough in the state where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has held power for the past 15 years.

The ruling TMC, allied with other parties, currently leads in 58 seats, while the Left Front is ahead in 2 constituencies, the Hindu newspaper Hindustan Times reported.

West Bengal underwent voting in two phases amid high political stakes. The state has been under TMC rule since 2011, ending a long-standing communist dominance. The BJP made a strong challenge in the 2016 elections and intensified its efforts in 2021, leading to fierce competition this year.

Exit poll analyses indicated a close contest between TMC and BJP, with recent results suggesting that BJP has made significant inroads into the eastern state's political landscape.

Out of the total 294 assembly seats, results for 293 are expected to be announced today. A majority requires at least 148 seats.

In Tamil Nadu, the incumbent DMK-led coalition has taken an early lead, with the party forging an alliance with Congress. Notably, popular Tamil actor Vijay's party is in a competitive second position, while the BJP-led alliance trails behind in third.

Tamil Nadu's assembly comprises 234 seats, with a minimum of 118 needed for a majority.

In Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF) maintains an initial lead, followed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in second place, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ranking third.

In Assam, the NDA coalition, which includes BJP, is leading, with the Congress-led alliance in second position. Out of 126 seats, at least 94 are required for a majority.

In Puducherry, the NDA alliance is also ahead, with the DMK and Congress-led coalition trailing. With 30 seats in the territorial assembly, at least 13 seats are needed for a clear majority.

Stay tuned for live updates as the results continue to unfold.