West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday rejected the exit poll projections released after the Assembly elections, alleging that the forecasts were politically influenced and aimed at weakening the morale of the All India Trinamool Congress ahead of counting day.
Dismissing the projections as unreliable, Mamata Banerjee said the people of West Bengal had once again placed their trust in the “Maa-Mati-Manush” government and expressed confidence that the Trinamool Congress would return to power for a fourth straight term.
In a strong message to party workers, she said the exit polls were being used to spread confusion and discourage TMC supporters, but asserted that the people’s mandate would ultimately favour her party when the votes are counted on May 4.
Thanking the voters of West Bengal for turning out in large numbers despite difficult weather conditions, the Chief Minister praised party workers for remaining firm through what she described as pressure from the BJP and central agencies during the election campaign.
She alleged that the ruling party at the Centre had used money, administrative machinery and outside influence in an attempt to weaken the Trinamool Congress, but claimed that voters had responded decisively through the ballot.
Mamata Banerjee further alleged that the exit poll numbers were “paid for” and designed according to a political script, asserting that the TMC would cross 226 seats in the Assembly and secure a comfortable majority.
She urged all party candidates and workers to remain alert during the counting process and instructed them to closely monitor the movement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) until the counting was completed.
The Chief Minister also appealed for peace and discipline among party workers, saying that the administration should not act against TMC supporters and insisting that the people of Bengal had rejected outside political influence.
Her remarks come amid rising political tension in the state, as parties prepare for the announcement of the final results. With exit polls predicting a tight contest, the TMC leadership has mounted an aggressive campaign to reassure supporters and challenge the credibility of the forecasts.
