Counting agents of the Left-Congress candidate in Kolkata North, Pradip Bhattacharya, started leaving the counting hall at Netaji Indoor Stadium around 12.30pm.

The Trinamool Congress candidate from the constituency, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, was leading by 25,000 votes then.

At 2pm, firecrackers started going off outside the stadium. Some counting agents of Tapas Roy, the BJP candidate, who had come out for a break, decided not to go back.

At 3pm, “Joy Bangla” slogans filled the air outside and there was green abir everywhere. It was clear by then that Trinamool’s Bandyopadhyay had gained an unassailable lead.

The scene at Netaji Indoor Stadium reflected what was happening outside all counting centres in the city. Counting agents of the opposition candidates kept leaving the centres as time passed and the Trinamool candidates consolidated their leads.

Outside, the crowds of Trinamool supporters were swelling by the minute.

Putul Biswas, 52, a Batanagar resident, was waiting outside the counting centre at Hastings House where the votes of the Diamond Harbour constituency were being counted. As Trinamool candidate Abhishek Banerjee’s lead grew, Putul and other party supporters started celebrating.

“We did not trust the exit polls. Didi has done so much for the people. The welfare schemes such as Kanyashree, Rupashree, widow pension and old-age pension, among others, have benefitted so many people,” she said.

“The Diamond Harbour constituency has seen a sea change. Roads are better now, they are illuminated and almost all households have potable water.”

A group of men came out of Hastings House with a piece of paper that had the results of various booths written on it.

In the afternoon, Trinamool’s Kolkata South candidate, Mala Roy, went hopping from one counting centre to another. “I want to thank all the party workers who have worked tirelessly all these months,” said Roy, sitting with party leaders some distance away from the gate of Ballygunge Government High School, one of the counting centres.

The police were strict outside most counting centres. There were several layers of barricades. Only counting agents were allowed beyond the second layer.

Party supporters were assembling with flags and smearing each other with green abir at the barricade. Outside David Hare Training College on Ballygunge Circular Road, Trinamool supporters had assembled with party flags and packets of abir. The supporters shouted “Joy Bangla”.

Pintu Chowdhury, a Trinamool Congress supporter, said women had voted in large numbers for the party. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has empowered women by transferring cash directly to them, Chowdhury said outside David Hare Training College.

Trinamool supporters were heard discussing among themselves the possible reasons for the party’s victory.

While most spoke about the welfare schemes of the state government, some said this was a vote against Modi.

“People have suffered a lot because of price rise and unemployment. How long will people vote on Hindu-Muslim lines?” said one of them.

As Trinamool’s dominance started becoming clear, many counting agents of opposition parties said they were leaving fearing harassment. “It is not prudent to stay back. I may be heckled,” a counting agent of the CPM said after stepping out of Hastings House around noon.