West Bengal is witnessing a dramatic political shift as the Bharatiya Janata Party surges ahead in early counting trends, crossing the crucial halfway mark in the 294-seat assembly. Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress are facing their toughest challenge in 15 years, with key strongholds like Kolkata and Howrah showing signs of slipping away. Suvendu Adhikari, once a close aide of Mamata, has emerged as a central figure in BJP’s aggressive push. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns over alleged counting irregularities, urging party workers to stay alert until the final results are declared.

Kolkata reels under devastating overnight rainfall, with seven fatalities reported across the city due to severe waterlogging and electrocution. South Kolkata has been the hardest hit, with casualties recorded in Beniapukur, Kalikapur, Netaji Nagar, Gariahat, Ekbalpur, Behala, and Haridevpur. The Bay of Bengal’s brewing storm has intensified the situation, triggering widespread flooding, disrupted transportation, and forcing several educational institutions to declare rain holidays. Emergency services are struggling to manage the crisis as torrential rainfall continues to wreak havoc across the city. WATCH