Opposition parties criticise BJP’s election gains; BJP responds to allegations

BJP, on the other hand, claimed that TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been taught a lesson for insulting Lord Jagannath by naming a Digha temple a “Dham”.

PTI, May 04, 2026, Bhubaneswar : As BJP is much ahead in trends in West Bengal, where counting of votes is underway, Odisha’s opposition parties BJD and Congress on Monday alleged that the saffron party “captures” states using central agencies and “does not win” by people’s votes.

BJP, on the other hand, claimed that TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been taught a lesson for insulting Lord Jagannath by naming a Digha temple a “Dham”.

According to the EC website, BJP won 11 seats in West Bengal and is leading in 186 others till 5 pm. TMC was declared the winner in two seats and is ahead in 88 others.

“They (BJP) are winning elections by hook or by crook by using ECI, ED, CBI and other agencies. There is no magic behind the elections in West Bengal and Assam. Had there been any magic, why did chief ministers, Union ministers and scores of leaders from different parts of the country campaign in West Bengal?” Mallik asked.

Replying to a question, the BJD leader said that BJP’s rise in West Bengal would not impact any regional party in eastern India.

“How can it impact regional parties? Has TMC been finished? Mamata is fighting, and the manner in which the BJP people attacked the woman leader shows the BJP’s hollow commitment to women’s empowerment,” Mallik said.

“They (BJP) have used all means against a woman leader; they used all means to capture the state,” the seven-time MLA and former minister said.

Mallik also accused BJP of misleading the people of both Odisha and Bengal.

Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das also criticised BJP and alleged that the saffron party has manipulated polls.

“BJP’s election management has a big role behind this. You see how Rs 10,000 was transferred to the account of voters during the Bihar election. This is totally against the election norms. They violate all rules. How could a Parliament session be convened when the election process in Bengal was underway? This session aimed to motivate women voters of Bengal. The Election Commission did not stop it,” he said.

This election could be the victory of the Election Commission, Das claimed.

“They (BJP) have captured states, not through votes but by their poll management and ECI,” Das said, wondering how the anti-incumbency could not become a factor in Assam while it is applicable for West Bengal.

Senior BJP leader and Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, in a post on X, said, “BJP victorious in Anga (Bihar), Banga (Bengal) and Kalinga (Odisha).”

Parida, who hails from Puri district, claimed that Mamata Banerjee was taught a lesson for daring to insult Lord Jagannath by naming Digha temple a “Dham”.

“Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath does not tolerate arrogance; this has been proven in the West Bengal elections. After her brother (BJD chief Naveen Patnaik) suffered the consequences of dishonouring Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, now sister Mamata’s arrogance has been shattered,” Parida said.

She, however, did not elaborate on how former chief minister Naveen Patnaik dishonoured Lord Jagannath.

The deputy CM also expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for supporting the development policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma once again.

Odisha’s Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik claimed that Mamata Banerjee paid a heavy price for destroying “Sonar Bangla” (golden Bengal), while another Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo thanked the people of West Bengal for bringing change in the system and placing their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.