STAR REPORT

The result of the assembly polls in West Bengal is expected today, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) hoping to extend its 15-year rule and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aiming for its first victory in a state long ruled by leftist parties.

Early trends and surveys indicate a fierce contest between TMC and BJP, with both parties holding strong ground in different regions. The final tally will determine the political trajectory of the state, with analysts watching closely to see whether the TMC maintains its strongholds or the BJP makes significant inroads.

After the second round of voting, several exit polls predicted that the BJP had a slight edge over the TMC. The saffron party has run a spirited election campaign spearheaded by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand supremo of the TMC and the chief minister of the state since 2011, has also left no stone unturned during the campaign.

The campaigns resulted in a record turnout in the two-phase election. According to the Indian Election Commission, the state recorded an overall voter turnout of 92.47 percent. Women turned out in even greater numbers at 93.24 percent, while male If

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