Kolkata: Senior BJP figures on Monday projected confidence about forming the next government in West Bengal, claiming early trends show voters have overwhelmingly endorsed political change and backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. As counting continued across 293 assembly constituencies, the BJP surged ahead in 171 seats, well above the halfway mark, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led in 83.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, contesting again from Nandigram while also challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, said the emerging mandate was clear. “BJP will form the government. People have given the BJP a clear mandate,” he told reporters.

BJP leaders cite consolidation of support

Adhikari argued that voting patterns signalled a decisive shift. He claimed Muslim voters had not backed the TMC as a bloc, while Hindu votes had consolidated behind the BJP. “Hindus could not be divided in the name of language, religion and caste,” he said, adding that a final victory would belong to Modi, who fronted the campaign. “All Hindus have united in favour of PM Modi,” he said.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya echoed the sentiment, asserting that the TMC government had already been “rejected” at the ballot box. He maintained that the final tally would show the public choosing between “Mamata Banerjee and the people,” and that “people have rejected Mamata Banerjee.”

Claims of a political turning point

Dilip Ghosh, the party’s candidate from Kharagpur Sadar, said voters had decisively opted for change. “The counting will be conducted in the same manner as the polling. People have voted to bring a new government,” he said.

Arjun Singh, contesting from Noapara, described the election as a landmark moment. “We firmly believe, with full confidence and trust, that this change will happen and the BJP will win the elections,” he said.

Subrata Thakur, the BJP candidate from Gaighata, predicted a strong majority, putting the party’s likely tally above 180 seats. He credited the Election Commission for ensuring fair polling conditions this year. “With Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding us from Delhi, we will form a double-engine government. In past elections, there were strong-arm tactics. This year the EC ensured free and fair polls. People have voted for 'poriborton',” he said.

BJP says TMC has ‘fallen silent’

Senior party leader Sishir Bajoria said the TMC’s silence on counting day reflected its diminishing prospects. “Have you heard anything from Didi's side? They have fallen silent,” he said.

In Darjeeling, BJP MP Raju Bista said that early results showed voters had turned away from those “who supported infiltrators, corruption, and could not stop violence against women.” He added that the outcome also honoured party workers who had lost their lives. “This victory also paid tribute to the 100 of BJP workers who sacrificed their lives under TMC terror,” he said.

Counting was still under way at the time of reporting, with final results expected later in the day.

(PTI)