India
oi-Prakash KL
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will secure a decisive victory in the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata on Thursday, Shah stated that internal party assessments suggest the BJP could win more than 110 of the 152 seats contested in the first phase of polling.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence in a BJP victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, citing the 91.83% Phase 1 voter turnout as an endorsement of PM Modi and signaling the end of Mamata Banerjee’s rule. Shah also praised the peaceful conduct of polling without fatalities.
Highlighting the record voter turnout, Shah noted that 92.58 per cent of eligible voters participated in the first phase, which he described as a clear endorsement of development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He argued that the high turnout demonstrated a shift from “fear to trust” among the electorate, adding that voters had signalled the end of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tenure. “The people of Bengal have chosen development under PM Modi. This reflects that Mamata Didi’s time is over,” he declared.
Shah went on to thank the Election Commission, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and the Bengal Police for ensuring peaceful polling. He emphasised that, for the first time in many years, no lives were lost during the election process. “I would like to thank the Election Commission, CAPF, and the Bengal Police, because after a long time, this was the first election where not even a single person lost their life. The elections were conducted peacefully,” he said.
Addressing concerns about whether public support would translate into votes, Shah insisted that the first phase had dispelled such doubts. He urged voters in the upcoming second phase to continue the momentum, describing their role as crucial in carrying forward the “phase of change”. “There was apprehension expressed here that while there is public support, will it reach the polling stations? Those apprehensions have now ended, and I am confident that there will be even more enthusiasm in voting in the second phase,” he remarked.
The Election Commission of India confirmed that Phase I of polling concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a turnout of 91.83 per cent. The figures underline the scale of voter engagement, with polling conducted under tight security across constituencies. The second phase of voting is scheduled for 29 April, while counting of votes will take place on 4 May.
While Shah’s remarks reflect the BJP’s optimism, the final outcome will only be determined once votes are officially counted and results certified. For now, the party is banking on its internal projections and the unprecedented voter turnout as indicators of a potential breakthrough in West Bengal.
With inputs from ANI
