As vote counting continues in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the party is executing a “planned strategy” to influence the perception of results. Her remarks come at a time when early trends suggest a strong lead for the BJP, which is currently ahead in around 190 seats, while the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is trailing with approximately 99 seats. The West Bengal Assembly consists of 294 constituencies, and the majority mark stands at 148.
In her first public response during the counting process, Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over what she described as a deliberate attempt by the BJP to shape early narratives. She stated that she had anticipated such a development and claimed that the BJP’s strategy involved showcasing its leads in the initial rounds while delaying or underreporting TMC’s performance.
Banerjee urged her party workers, counting agents, and candidates to remain vigilant and not leave counting centers under any circumstances. She warned that early trends might not reflect the final outcome and emphasized that multiple rounds of counting were yet to be completed. According to her, many constituencies have up to 14 to 18 rounds of counting, and the situation could change significantly as more rounds are concluded.
The Chief Minister also alleged irregularities in the counting process at several locations. She claimed that counting had been halted after a few rounds in nearly 100 constituencies, raising questions about transparency. Additionally, she mentioned that discrepancies were found in certain electronic voting machines (EVMs), including an instance in Kalyani where machines reportedly did not match expected data.
Banerjee further accused central forces of exerting undue influence during the election process. She alleged that TMC offices were being targeted, with reports of damage and forced occupation. According to her, the use of central forces has created an atmosphere of intimidation, affecting both party workers and voters.
Another major concern raised by Banerjee was related to the voter list revision process known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR). She argued that the removal of nearly 8.9 million voters—approximately 11.6 percent of the electorate—had significantly impacted the election. She suggested that this figure exceeds the victory margin her party achieved in the 2021 elections, implying that the revision could have altered the electoral balance.
Despite the unfavorable trends, Banerjee remained confident and encouraged her supporters not to lose hope. She emphasized that the counting process was still in its early stages and that the final results could differ from the current trends. She reassured party workers that TMC was still leading in several constituencies that were not being adequately reported.
In a motivational appeal, Banerjee urged her party to stay united and strong, stating that they would continue to fight with determination. She used a powerful metaphor, saying her party would “fight like the cubs of a tiger,” highlighting resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
As the counting progresses, all eyes remain on West Bengal to see whether the early trends will hold or if there will be a shift in favor of the ruling party. The coming hours are expected to be crucial in determining the final outcome of this high-stakes election.
