Assembly polls: TMC sweeps Bengal, BJP captures Assam

Congress is leading in Puducherry. 

As per trends at 2:40 pm, in Assam, the BJP is leading in 88 seats, out of 126 Assembly seats, while the Congress is ahead in 22 seats.

 

West Bengal is witnessing the return of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as her party is leading in 211 seats while the Left-Congress alliance is currently ahead in 75 seats. The BJP is ahead in four seats while others are leading in four. 

After securing another landmark victory in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was never nervous about securing a victory here.

Banerjee said, "I was never nervous about the win. We always knew it would be 200 plus for us. Some people tried to create a ruckus, the local media tied up with them, but we won."

In Assm, BJP's CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal batted for the closure of the Indo-Bangladesh border to stop infiltration.

Sonowal told media, "We need to seal the Indo-Bangladesh border in order to stop infiltration."

"Focus should be on the protection of all Indian citizens," Sonowal added.

Infiltration issue was an agenda for the BJP in their poll campaign.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah congratulated Sonowal and other BJP workers for capturing Assam from the Congress.

Modi said the BJP will do everything to fulfil dreams and aspirations of the people of Assam.

He called the victory in Assam as 'historic'.

 

In Kerala with 140 seats, the LDF (Left Democratic Front) is ahead in 90 seats while the ruling Oommen Chandy led UDF is leading in 47 seats.

In Tamil Nadu, where contest was being held across 234 seats, J Jayalalitha's AIADMK is ahead in 123 seats while the DMK is standing at the second spot as it is leading in 106 seats.

 J Jayalaithaa said she is committed to the cause and development of the people of the state.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Jaya said, "I have no other interest. My life is dedicated to the people of Tamil Nadu. I thank them and I are indebted to the people to Tamil Nadu for giving us the this victory after 1984. No other party came to power." 

Showering praise on the people for what is considered will culminate in a win for her later in the day, she said, "I do not have enough words to adequately express the gratitude."

In Union Territory Puducherry,  Congress is leading in 14 seats while the NRC is ahead in 10 seats.

The return of Mamata Banerjee is seen as not less feat for the leader who faced a tough time campaigning in the wake Saradha scam and Narada bribery tapes. 

Speaking on the Congress-Left coalition, she said, "Congress committed a blunder. We were in a coalition with them in 2011 and secured 180 seats but this time my party alone secured 210 seats."

She said she is grateful to people who voted for her despite vicious propaganda against her party when at times political decorum was crossed by the rivals.

"Development is our only weapon. I dedicate the victory to people. I am not smiling, I want people to smile and that is my smile. People rejected terror of Delhi and I vow to take Bengal forward and make it best," said Mamata Banerjee, urging all to maintain peace.

"I am a commoner. I am not a VIP, I am an LIP or Less Important Person. I will work for the people of India," she said. 

She said there is no corruption and the state is free from such evils and people did not believe in the lies of corruption and they rejected it.

Meanwhile, following the defeat, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing West Bengal Assembly and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Surya Kanta Mishra said his party will continue to fight for the people of the state.

 Mishra said: "There is a tacit understanding between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress which helped the latter. It is a danger we have to cope with in coming days."

"Defeat must not be seen as retreat. We will keep fighting," said Mishra.

"Defeat is defeat and we have to accept it," said Mishra, who himself lost his seat in Narayangarh.