TNI Bureau: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has strongly dismissed exit poll predictions favouring the BJP and asserted that the TMC will comfortably retain power in the 2026 Assembly elections by winning more than 226 seats.

In a video message released after polling, Banerjee thanked the people of Bengal for turning out to vote despite intense heat and what she described as “atrocities” during the election process. She expressed gratitude to TMC workers for standing firm despite what she called collective pressure from the Centre.

She alleged that the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and BJP leaders from 19 states had tried to influence Bengal using money, power, and force, but said the people had responded through the ballot box.

Calling the exit polls “paid and forced,” Banerjee claimed they were being pushed as part of a planned narrative by the BJP. She said she had complete faith in the voters of Bengal and confidently predicted that the Trinamool Congress would cross the 226-seat mark.

The Chief Minister also urged party candidates and workers to remain alert during the counting process, alleging that there were plans to tamper with EVMs while being transported to counting centres. She asked them not to leave the counting halls until official confirmation and instructed them to maintain peace and discipline.

Mamata further appealed to the administration not to use force against party workers and accused the BJP of depending heavily on central forces due to a lack of local support. She also alleged that money was distributed to influence voters, claiming envelopes containing Rs 3,000 had been handed out.

Reiterating her confidence, Mamata Banerjee said Bengal does not support “outsiders” and assured supporters that only TMC would return to power in the state.