Exit polls predictions made at BJP's behest to demoralise TMC workers: Mamata

After the two-phase voting in the West Bengal assembly elections in India, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has opened up about the BJP's lead in most exit polls.

She claims that the BJP has been 'forced' to show exit polls with money. She is confident that Trinamool will win at least 226 seats out of the 294 assembly seats, more than the majority required to form the government.

In a video message posted on her Facebook page, Mamata said, 'What is shown on TV was spread from the BJP office at 1:08 pm on Wednesday. It was written with money' on Thursday.

The leader, who has been in power in West Bengal for 15 years, said, 'We can get 230 seats too. I have full confidence in the way people voted in large numbers.'

She alleged that Trinamool workers had to endure the 'joint atrocities' of the central forces and the state police during the elections. Thanking the voters and party workers, Mamata said, 'You stood in line to vote despite enduring so much torture in such a hot sun, we are grateful to you.'

She also said, 'The behavior of the central forces yesterday, the newly appointed police personnel beat up women and children. I have no words to express my condolences to the family of the person who died while voting in Udayanarayanpur.'

Pointing to the exit polls, Mamata said, 'BJP has played its last game with the media to break the morale of our workers. The same thing happened in 2016 and 2021 too.' She also claimed that there is 'no such thing as impartiality' in India today.

The exit poll results started coming out in the evening after the second phase of voting ended on Wednesday. Most of the polls indicate that the BJP is coming to power in West Bengal with a majority. A minimum of 148 seats are required to form a government in the state, and most polls show the BJP crossing 150.