Amit Shah claims BJP to win over 110 seats in first phase of Bengal polls

BJP projects strong lead after Phase 1

Addressing a press conference, Shah said, “The BJP’s Bengal team has conducted its assessment. Based on this, I can say that out of 152 seats, the BJP is likely to win more than 110.”

He added that if trends from the second phase are factored in, the party is on course to form the government in the state.

Record voter turnout signals high engagement

West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout of 91.4 per cent in the first phase held on Thursday—one of the highest in recent electoral history. The figure underlines strong voter participation across constituencies.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a similar claim, linking the high turnout to what he described as people overcoming the “fear” of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“The way women and youth have come out to vote against the TMC has been witnessed across polling,” Modi said, adding that “fear is being defeated and ‘bharosa’ is set to win.”

Mamata counters BJP’s claims

Refuting the BJP’s assertions, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the high turnout reflects public support for the TMC and anger against the Special Intensive Revision.

“The higher turnout reflects people’s determination to vote for the TMC because they know what is at stake,” Banerjee said while campaigning in Kolkata.

Questioning the Prime Minister’s remarks, she added, “How can the Prime Minister claim victory while voting is still underway?”

Banerjee further asserted that the TMC had already moved closer to victory after the first phase.

152 seats across 16 districts vote in Phase 1

A total of 152 out of 294 constituencies spread across 16 districts went to polls in the first phase on Thursday, as the high-stakes electoral battle in West Bengal heads toward its later stages.