West Bengal Election Results 2026 Date, Time: When will counting of votes begin for Bengal polls?

After a “detailed investigation” of the polling process, the EC on Saturday also ordered a repoll in all the 285 booths in Falta Assembly constituency. Fresh polls will now be held at all 285 polling stations in Falta on May 21, and counting will be done on May 24,

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said West Bengal had recorded the highest-ever polling percentage in both phases of this Assembly polls since Independence.

This is the first elections since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of polls took place in the state.

When will results be declared?

The election results will be announced, along with those for polls in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, on May 4. In West Bengal, counting will be held in 293 out of 294 Assembly constituencies, with the repoll pending in Falta.

Counting of votes is expected to begin around 8am on the day. Counting of votes will begin with postal ballots, followed by the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

However, results for Falta seat will be out on May 24 due to EC announcing repolling.

How to track results

For real-time updates on the Assembly election results, stay tuned to indianexpress.com and our YouTube channel where our reporters and editors bring the day’s developments and analysis.

To check the results on the official ECI portal, follow these steps:

• To check election results, visit the official website of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• After visiting the site and opening the relevant link, users will be directed to a window displaying frames for the states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
• Users can click on the frame of their choice to view the live counting results.
• The information will be continuously updated as data is entered into the system by the Returning Officers from their respective counting centres.

Users can also download the ECINET app to check results on mobile devices.

What do exit polls say?

Most of the exit polls put the BJP ahead of the ruling TMC in West Bengal, where polling touched a record high in both the phases. Across projections, the Left remained largely marginal, with most estimates placing it in low single digits.

Breaking from the trend, People’s Pulse projected a TMC win, giving the party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee an outright majority with 177-187 seats, BJP at 95-110, Left Front at 0-1 and the Congress at 1-3.

Across projections, the BJP’s tally changed widely — from 95 to 170 seats — highlighting both its expansion in the state and the uncertainty around the final outcome.