Exit polls: Mamata alleges media hype
A day after majority pollsters predicted an edge to the BJP over ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that her party would retain power with more than 226 seats in the just concluded Assembly polls.
“What was 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. They are saying forcefully that this has to be done,” Mamata alleged, describing the exit polls as part of a “larger conspiracy” to influence perception before the results are out.
While Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was in charge of BJP in Bengal elections, on Thursday said the BJP would retain power in Assam and expressed confidence that there would be a change of Government in West Bengal.
“Beyond exit polls, all of us who worked in the election campaign this time in the five states (four states and one union territory) are confident that the BJP will retain power in Assam and that, for the first time in a long period, West Bengal is heading for a major change,” Pradhan said.
Mamata further 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.
Mamata who had a fierce poll battle with main opponent BJP, said the TMC would comfortably cross the two-thirds mark. “We will cross 226 seats in 2026. We might cross even 230 seats. I have complete faith in the massive mandate given by the people,” she said.
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 chief 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.
She urged party leaders, candidates and workers to remain on high alert and guard strong rooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), alleging possible attempts at tampering during their movement to counting centres.
