New Delhi/Kolkata, May 4 -- With early trends indicating a strong lead in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday expressed confidence that it is on course to form its first-ever government in the state - a development the party described as "historic" given Bengal's association with its ideological roots.

Senior BJP leaders said that forming a government in West Bengal would carry symbolic importance, as it is the birthplace of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of the BJP.

Reacting to the trends, BJP leaders asserted that the mandate reflects a clear desire for political change in the state. Party leaders also claimed that voters have rejected what they termed as "appeasement p...