KOLKATA: The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that the BJP would win in 110 out of 152 assembly constituencies in the first phase of West Bengal polls held across 16 districts on Thursday, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Shah, who has been campaigning in the state as the BJP’s star campaigner after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, “The BJP will bag more than 110 out of 152 seats in the first phase polls held on Thursday.”
He further claimed that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal with an absolute majority next month, adding that a Bengali leader educated in a Bengali-medium school would become the Chief Minister.
Asserting that voters had turned out in large numbers seeking change, Shah said the “Anga, Banga and Kalinga” regions would see BJP governments next month, referring to ancient kingdoms of eastern India. He also cited the reported over 92 per cent voter turnout in the first phase.
The second phase of polling for the remaining 142 seats in south Bengal, including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and North and South 24 Parganas, will be held on April 29.
Shah thanked the Election Commission and security forces for ensuring no deaths during polling, noting that 1,278 people were injured in the 2016 elections and 1,681 in 2021.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of balanced development between eastern and western India would be realised if the BJP comes to power in the state. Shah also alleged large-scale illegal land encroachment in Bengal and promised action similar to Assam if voted to power.
Criticising Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah said her remarks on women’s safety reflected governance failure and claimed that even teenage girls would be able to move freely at night under a BJP government.
He also targeted Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, alleging “syndicate raj” and “bhaipo tax” in the state, and accused the TMC government of institutionalised corruption involving scams worth over Rs 10,000 crore since 2011.
Responding to Shah’s claims, Abhishek Banerjee, speaking at a rally in Howrah, said the Trinamool Congress had already crossed the 100-seat mark in the first phase. He said the BJP was “gripped by panic” and cited his earlier poll predictions as evidence of his accuracy.
