Kolkata, April 29 Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday expressed strong confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the next government in West Bengal, dismissing exit poll predictions as unreliable in the state's unique political landscape.
Speaking to IANS, Majumdar asserted that the BJP is set to secure a decisive mandate, claiming the party would cross the 170-seat mark in the Assembly elections.
"Look, the BJP government is being formed. I don't believe much in exit polls. For Bengal, exit polls are more difficult because people here don't speak much; they act. So, I feel that the BJP government will be formed; we are forming a government with more than 170 seats. What exit polls say is a different matter, but the BJP government will be formed," he said.
Targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Majumdar suggested that her recent public appearance signal political pressure.
"We have seen Mamata Banerjee like this after many years. Today, after so many years, she left the house so early during the elections. For the last 15-20 years, she used to leave the house at 3:30 p.m. Today, if she is leaving so early, there is something wrong, she is under pressure," he said.
Majumdar also raised concerns over a reported violent incident in the Falta area, alleging that such occurrences are not new and are linked to what he described as a pattern in regions associated with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership.
Referring to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, the former State BJP President claimed that incidents of violence have been witnessed earlier as well, including during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
"Such an incident happened in Falta. And this is not new; it comes under Abhishek Banerjee's constituency of Diamond Harbour and that's why, even before, during the Lok Sabha voting, such an incident had happened. And this time also, it is happening," he alleged.
In a sharp political attack, Majumdar accused the TMC of promoting what he termed as "cellotape democracy" in certain areas, implying suppression of free expression among voters.
"And this is the model given by Abhishek Banerjee; he talks about democracy in Delhi. And here they do 'cellotape democracy'; he is a 'cellotape MP'," he said.
The BJP leader's remarks underline the intensifying political rhetoric in West Bengal as parties await the final election results, which are expected to determine whether the state witnesses a change in power or continuity under the TMC.
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