BJP Is Now "Government-In-Waiting" In Bengal, Admits Trinamool's Chandan Mitra

The BJP's remarkable score in West Bengal, a long-time Left bastion-turned-Trinamool fortress, was among the big stories of the national election as votes were counted on Thursday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is ahead in more seats, 22 of the 42 seats in the state, but the BJP is close with 18 seats. The Congress is leading in one seat. Chandan Mitra, who quit the BJP last year to join the Trinamool, admitted he was surprised. "This is definitely surprising. They were nowhere till a year ago... but in the last two elections they (BJP) have grown immensely... I would not be surprised If they are the government in waiting (in the state)... BJP has grown in Bengal," Chandan Mitra told NDTV.