West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee looks set to retain power for a third straight term with her party Trinamool Congress crossing the halfway mark in the closely contested assembly election 2021 in the state, the trends suggested after early hours of counting of votes on Sunday.

The TMC had secured 48.8% of the votes counted, and the BJP 36.8%. The TMC has consistently maintained a 12 percentage point lead in vote share over the BJP. But in a diverse state and with many more votes to be counted, this may not last.

The Trinamool Congress was currently leading in 194 seats, while the BJP was leading in 81 seats around 12 noon. Belying expectations of a tight contest, the TMC candidates appeared galloping to victory, and, if the current trends hold, the party will easily form its third successive government in the state. However, for the most part of early trends, both parties were neck and neck as the latest leads continue to come in.