New Delhi: Stressing that the high turnout in West Bengal polls signalled a “pro-BJP mandate”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday said it was made possible due to “fearless” voting and that “people have decided to vote out didi (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee)”.
West Bengal reported 92% turnout in phase 1 of polling Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said he had been camping in the state for the past 14 days and that the BJP’s Bengal team had conducted its assessment. Based on that, of the 152 seats that went to the polls Thursday, the BJP is likely to win more than 110, he asserted.
“Taking the second phase into account as well, the BJP is set to form the government in Bengal,” said Shah as he congratulated the security agencies and the Election Commission for conducting free, fair and fearless elections.
The second and final phase of voting in the state will take place on 29 April.
Shah also highlighted that polling took place without incidents of violence being reported.
“I would like to thank the Election Commission, CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and the Bengal Police, because after a long time, this was the first election where not even a single person lost their life. The elections were conducted peacefully,” he added.
According to Shah, the huge voter turnout marked the beginning of a shift “from fear to trust”, a slogan that has been used by a number of party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I want to congratulate and thank all the voters of Bengal who cast their votes in the first phase, that you have started the journey from fear to trust very well, and the voters of the second phase will also carry forward the journey from fear to trust,” he said.
Shah further said people have given immense support to PM Modi and other BJP leaders’ rallies and roadshows.
“There was apprehension that while there is public support, will it reach the polling stations? Those apprehensions have now ended, and I am confident there will be more enthusiasm in the second phase of voting.”
The home minister again reiterated the party’s stance that contrary to rumours spread by the CM, a Bengali born in the state will be the next BJP chief minister. “I want to make it clear that the next chief minister of Bengal will be a Bengali, and will be a BJP worker,” he said.
Appealing to voters to come out and vote fearlessly in the second phase of elections, Shah underlined that the Election Commission had made “excellent arrangements to ensure there is no rigging in the voting process”.
“Forget the old elections, vote for Bengal’s bright future and form a BJP government,” he urged.
“After the first phase, it is clear that the voters of Bengal have chosen development. Yesterday, in the first phase of voting for the Bengal assembly elections 2026, the people of Bengal shattered all records by voting with unprecedented enthusiasm and zeal for change,” he added.
When it was pointed out that Bengal has been a tough battle for the BJP, Shah said there are a number of states the party managed to win which were termed “tough”, including Assam and Tripura, among others.
‘I can see a tsunami’
“The government is not made by parties but by the people and we are certain that a BJP government will be formed in West Bengal. I can see a tsunami and our seats will increase with a very big margin,” Shah asserted, when asked about speculation that the winning margin on seats could be slim.
When it was highlighted that in a number of states where elections took place, high voting percentage indicated pro-incumbency and what made the BJP certain of getting huge support this time, Shah said that due to the SIR exercise, the appeal made for change and by ensuring free and fearless elections, the party was confident the people had voted for change this time.
“We have appealed for change. By change, we mean making Bengal free from infiltration and freeing it from the politics of appeasement. Thousands of hectares of land are under unauthorised encroachment. On the lines of Assam, we will undertake a large-scale drive in Bengal to clear this land and utilise it for the state’s development,” he said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
-
-
-
-
