'TMC Will Win Over 226 Seats': Mamata Banerjee Makes Bold Claim Ahead Of West Bengal Election Result

Kolkata: The Assembly elections in West Bengal have been successfully concluded. In the first phase of the elections in the state, voting took place for 152 seats on April 23. Subsequently, in the second and final phase held on April 29, voting was conducted for 142 seats. A voter turnout of over 92 percent was recorded in both phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections—a figure that constitutes a record. In almost all exit polls released following the elections in West Bengal, the BJP appears to hold a lead, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) seems to be trailing. However, today—Thursday—Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee released a video message in which she made a bold claim regarding the election results.

What Did Mamata Banerjee Say?

Following the elections in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a significant statement. Releasing a video message ahead of the vote counting, Mamata Banerjee asserted that the TMC would win more than 226 seats in the 2026 elections. She declared that they are poised to form a "Ma-Mati-Manush" (Mother-Earth-People) government in Bengal. Accusing the BJP, Mamata Banerjee stated that while the Centre had deployed its entire machinery, victory would ultimately belong to them. She further alleged that BJP leaders from 19 different states had arrived in Bengal with the specific intent of intimidating the people of the state.

Just one day after the conclusion of the elections in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee leveled an allegation claiming that the central forces deployed during the polls were acting as agents of the BJP. She asserted that the projections from the "exit polls" were broadcast at the behest of the BJP with the specific aim of demoralizing Trinamool Congress workers.

Are There Indications of a BJP Victory?

According to nearly all exit polls released post-election, there are strong indications that the BJP is poised to come to power in West Bengal for the very first time. According to an exit poll released by Matrize, the BJP could form the government in West Bengal by winning between 146 and 161 seats. Conversely, the incumbent Trinamool Congress is projected to be restricted to a tally of 125 to 140 seats. Meanwhile, other political parties contesting the West Bengal Assembly elections are estimated to secure between 6 and 10 seats. It is worth noting that the results of the Assembly elections in West Bengal will be declared on May 4. The state has a total of 294 Assembly seats, and any party will need to win 148 seats to secure a majority.