KOLKATA: Early trends in the West Bengal Assembly Elections show a tight contest, with the BJP ahead of the Trinamool Congress as counting gets underway.

The Trinamool, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is seeking a straight fourth term, facing a stronger-than-before BJP challenge.

This election marks the first after a record deletion of voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

The Trinamool Congress is locked in a direct battle with the BJP, whose prominent face in the state is Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition and a former close aide of Banerjee.

Other contenders include the Congress and the Left Front. Adding a new dimension to the contest is a party formed by suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir, who drew attention for his initiative to build a mosque named after the Babri.

Voting in the state took place in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

Repolling was conducted in the Falta constituency and in some booths elsewhere.