‘Exit Polls Are From BJP’s Office’: Mamata Banerjee Alleges Rigging, Vows to Guard EVMs Herself
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dismissed the exit poll projections giving the BJP an edge in the state assembly elections, calling the numbers fabricated and urging party workers to stand guard at EVM strongrooms through the night ahead of the May 4 counting.
“Exit polls are from the BJP’s office. The numbers are fabricated, meant to demoralise TMC workers,” Banerjee said in a video message, also alleging that raids were conducted in her constituency, Bhabanipur, throughout the night.
Banerjee expressed confidence that the TMC would form the government once results are declared and warned that her party would not allow “any khela during counting.”
“BJP has played the final game. Share markets would have toppled if the real figures were released. People need to stay together, keep a close watch on counting… stay up all night,” she said, adding that she would personally guard the EVM strongrooms if required.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns about possible data manipulation during counting. “They plan to swap EVMs… till the time I hold a press conference and declare, do not leave counting tables… they might change data in computers, giving our numbers to BJP and BJP’s to us. I myself will go to the counting hall, I can do that as a candidate. You have gone through so much. Please bear slightly more to save Bengal,” she said.
Banerjee asserted that the TMC would return to power by winning more than 226 of the 294 assembly seats in Bengal.
What the Exit Polls Have Predicted
The exit poll picture is largely, though not uniformly, unfavourable for the TMC. Matrize projected the TMC at 125-140 seats — potentially short of the 148-seat majority mark while giving the BJP 146-161 seats. P-Marq forecast a stronger BJP showing at 150-175 seats, with the TMC winning 118-138 and other parties securing between two and six seats.
Poll Diary predicted a clear BJP victory with 142-171 seats, while estimating the TMC would fall well short of the majority with 99-127 seats.
However, pollster People’s Pulse offered a contrasting view, projecting a TMC retention of power with 177-187 seats, though down from its current 215, and placing the BJP at 95-110 seats. Votes will be counted on May 4.