No victory rallies after results in West Bengal: EC official Subrata Gupta as counting underway

The comment was made after the poll panel received various complaints that agents of different parties were unable to reach the counting centres.

Updated on: May 4, 2026, 10:34:53 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Special Electoral Roll Observer Subrata Gupta on Monday said no victory rallies will be allowed anywhere in West Bengal as counting for the Assembly elections got underway. The comment was made after the poll panel received various complaints that agents of different parties were unable to reach the counting centres.

Security personnel outside a vote counting centre during the West Bengal Assembly election results day, in Kolkata, Monday, May 4 (PTI)

"No rallies celebrating wins of candidates following the announcement of results will be allowed anywhere in the state today," Gupta told reporters.

"We are looking into the issue of agents being unable to reach their centres. It will be resolved soon," he added.

According to early trends from the West Bengal Assembly elections, as updated on the official website of the Election Commission of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in 48 assembly constituencies, while the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is ahead in 28 constituencies.

The Assembly elections were held on April 23 and 29 in West Bengal to elect all 294 members of the state assembly. Phase 1 of the election took place on April 23, when 152 constituencies voted (mostly in North Bengal and parts of the south). Phase 2 took place on April 29, with 142 constituencies voting (the remaining parts of South Bengal, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly). The 2026 election witnessed a record 92.93 per cent turnout — the highest ever in the state, with the previous best recorded in 2011. Phase 1 saw a 93.13 per cent turnout, while Phase 2 recorded 91.57 per cent.

Current chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is looking to secure a historic fourth straight term in power. The party first came to power in 2011 and remained dominant through the 2016 and 2021 elections. Its main challenger is the BJP, with Suvendu Adhikari as its face. Adhikari previously represented the TMC, switched sides before the 2021 elections, and defeated Mamata in Nandigram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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