Mamata Banerjee Claims Strong Electoral Prospects and Questions Exit Poll Narratives

PTI, April 30, 2026, Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged that exit poll predictions were being aired at the "instruction of the BJP" to demoralise TMC workers, and asserted that the ruling party would win more than 226 of the 294 Assembly seats in the state elections.

In a video message posted on X ahead of the counting on May 4, Mamata claimed television channels were running poll result projections "circulated from the BJP office". The Chief Minister's remarks came a day after most exit polls predicted a majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148, projections the TMC supremo sought to blunt with an aggressive counter-narrative.

"What is being shown on television was circulated from the BJP office at 1.08 pm. Money was paid to ensure it was aired. I have specific information," she alleged.

Exuding confidence about her party's prospects, Banerjee said the TMC would comfortably cross the two-thirds mark in the 294-member Assembly. "We will cross 226 seats in 2026. We might cross even 230. I have complete faith in the massive mandate given by the people," she said.

In a mix of political messaging and emotional outreach, Mamata struck a combative yet grateful tone, saying: "Those who tried to subdue Bengal have been subdued by the ballot," while expressing gratitude to party workers who, she claimed, "fought relentlessly and endured attacks".

She also trained her guns on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that Central forces acted as "agents of the BJP" during the entire polling process. The TMC supremo also reiterated her party's long-standing allegations of bias by Central agencies and forces deployed in the state.

Mamata alleged that women, children, journalists and TMC workers were assaulted in several areas during polling, and that many party workers were deliberately arrested to prevent them from acting as polling agents.

The Chief Minister cited incidents from pockets such as Bhatpara, Naihati, Jagaddal and even her political turf Bhabanipur, where she alleged late-night searches and intimidation.

Referring to the reported death of an elderly voter in Udaynarayanpur in a polling booth, she expressed condolences to the family and said her party would stand by them, while claiming that TMC workers "faced one-sided violence but did not leave the field".

The Chief Minister also alleged that the exit poll narrative was aimed at stabilising market sentiment and breaking the morale of TMC cadres. "They are playing their last game through sections of the media to psychologically weaken our workers and reassure the share market," she said, invoking discrepancies between exit polls and results in 2016 and 2021.