Assembly Election Results 2021 Live Updates: BJP wins Nandigram, but loses battle for West Bengal

Seems like the final word in the Nandigram electoral battle is yet to be spoken.

Three-member Trinamool Congress delegation is meeting Chief Electoral Officer at EC office in Kolkata seeking a recount of votes in Nandigram and other issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on her election victory.

After defeating Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari takes to Twitter to say, "My sincere thanks to great people of Nandigram for choosing me as their representative & MLA from Nandigram. It's my never-ending commitment to be of service to them."

BJP leaders are calling the party's win in Nandigram as a consolation win. But more than that some are calling it a "taint on TMC's victory."

Here's Amit Malviya's Twitter post.

In a shocking twist, the Election Commission has retracted from its earlier announcement of Mamata Banerjee's win in Nandigram.

Mamata Banerjee loses to Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram by 1957 votes. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier said, "Don't worry about Nandigram. I struggled for Nandigram because I fought a movement. It's ok. Let the Nandigram people give whatever verdict they want. I accept that. I don't mind. We won more than 221 seats and BJP has lost the election." 
 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan briefs the media after winning the election but starts with Covid-19 figures of the state.

Kerala today reported 31,950 new Covid-19 cases and 49 deaths

Later, Pinarayi said: "Kerala has given a verdict in favour of the LDF. It's a thumping win. But this is not the time for massive celebrations as Covid-19 continues to spread. This is the time to continue the fight against Covid-19."

There are reports coming in of post-poll violence from West Bengal.

While BJP office in Arambagh was set on fire, violence reportedly broke out in Beleghata.

The BJP has alleged TMC hand behind the arson and violence.

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari beats Mamata Banerjee, wins Nandigram by 1622 votes

Bharatiya Janata Party has conceded defeat in the West Bengal assembly election. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to congratulate Mamata Banerjee.

DMK chief MK Stalin issues a statement in which he tells party cadre, "Our success is a guaranteed success. However, since there is an epidemic, all the volunteers have to act with much more care. I had already issued a statement saying that success celebrations should be avoided. It should not be the cause of contagion and spread." 

"Avoid celebrations such as fireworks. Those in charge of the counting centres should be vigilant. Don't come out until the full vote count," he said.

'Metro Man' E Sreedharan has been defeated in the Palakkad assembly constituency by Congress' Shafi Parambhi with a margin of over 3000 votes

Election strategist Prashant Kishor has just made a massive announcement.

Speaking to television channel NDTV, Kishor said: "I want to quit this space, quit I-PAC and leave it to my colleagues to handle. I want to do something else in life."

"I have no desire to continue in this space whatsoever. Those who were trying to troll me, I am telling them in the victory, I don't want to do it any longer."

"I wanted to quit at a time when I am not accused of running away. This seems like the right time to do so," Prashant Kishor said.

The latest trends coming now indicate that Mamata Banerjee is set to sweep the West Bengal election once again with leads on 202 seats. The BJP is leading on 87 seats. 

In Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front is on course for another term with leads on 97 out of 140 seats. The Congress-led United Democratic Front is leading on 43 seats.

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK-Congress combine is emerging as the clear frontrunner for the election. The DMK-Congress combine is leading on 150 seats out of 234. The AIADMK-BJP alliance is leading on 83.

In Puducherry, former Chief Minister N Rangasamy's All India NR Congress is ahead of the Congress party. 

In Assam, BJP looks set to come to power on its own. The BJP-led NDA has taken the lead on 77 seats followed by the UPA on 48.

Election Commission has asked chief secretaries to lodge FIR over celebratory congregations in anticipation of poll victory and suspend police station in charges where such gatherings happen.

National Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar congratulates Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee as she gallops her way to power for a third term as Chief Minister.

Mamata wave
Mamata Banerjee is set to return to power for the third time with almost the same number of seats as she did in 2016. What makes the victory even more special is the fact that the Trinamool Congress was hit by a wave of desertions in the run-up to the elections and Mamata and her nephew Abhishek were at the centre of BJP's onslaught.   

BJP surge
BJP is the biggest gainer politically in this election. From three seats in 2016 to over 80 in 2021, the party has emerged as the principal opposition in the state. The BJP's poll performance can be attributed to the campaign blitz by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda and other top leaders of the party.

Congress rout
Congress has managed to salvage lead on only one seat out of 240. To recall, Congress had won 44 seats in the 2016 assembly election. The Congress-Left alliance could not match the BJP's campaign blitz led by Prime Minister Modi. The party seemed more focused on the elections in Assam and Kerala with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigning there.

Left wipeout
One of the biggest stories emerging from the West Bengal election verdict is the wipeout of the Communist party in the state. In the 2016 West Bengal assembly elections, the CPI-M had won 26 seats while AIFB won 2 seats and CPI got 1. This time, however, the Left has drawn a blank

One of the biggest stories emerging from the West Bengal election verdict is the wipeout of the Communist party in the state.

In the 2016 West Bengal assembly elections, the CPI-M had won 26 seats while AIFB won 2 seats and CPI got 1.

This time, however, the Left has drawn a blank.

Kerala
Congress currently is the second-largest party with leads on 25 seats and 24.7 per cent of the votes, according to the Election Commission. Congress had won 21 seats in the 2016 assembly elections as well

West Bengal
Congress has managed to salvage lead on 1 seat out of 240. To recall, Congress had won 44 seats in West Bengal in 2016 assembly elections.

Assam
Congress is the second-largest party with leads on 26 seats and 30 per cent of the votes. Congress had won 26 seats in the 2016 assembly elections as well

Tamil Nadu
Congress is seen leading on 12 seats. Congress had won 8 seats in Tamil Nadu 2016 assembly elections.

Puducherry
Congress is seen leading on 2 seats. Congress had won 15 seats in the 2016 assembly elections