Abhishek Banerjee Votes, Says BJP Won’t Cross 50 Seats in Bengal
He cited past election predictions by BJP leaders, noting that their projections had not materialised and outcomes had instead favoured the TMC
Kolkata: Abhishek Banerjee, General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress, cast his vote on Wednesday at the Mitra Institute polling booth in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency.
Expressing confidence in his party’s prospects, Banerjee claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party would be reduced to fewer than 50 seats in the ongoing elections. He cited past election predictions by BJP leaders, noting that their projections had not materialised and outcomes had instead favoured the TMC.
Banerjee also criticised election observers, alleging that they were not adhering to guidelines set by the courts and the Election Commission. He said the party had written to the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the issue and called for appropriate action.
The Bhabanipur Assembly constituency remains a key battleground, witnessing a high-profile contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The two leaders had previously faced off in Nandigram during the 2021 elections, where Adhikari secured a narrow victory.
Following that defeat, Mamata Banerjee contested and won the Bhabanipur bypoll after Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay vacated the seat. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Chattopadhyay had won Bhabanipur by a margin of 28,719 votes.
The second phase of polling, considered a “litmus test” for the TMC, covers 142 of the state’s 294 seats. Voting is taking place in the party’s strongholds across South Bengal and Kolkata.
Around 3.21 crore voters are eligible to vote in this phase, with 1,448 candidates, including 220 women, contesting across 41,001 polling stations. More than 8,000 of these booths are managed entirely by women.
Key urban constituencies such as Bhabanipur and Tollyganj are witnessing intense contests. In the 2021 elections, the TMC had dominated this region, winning 123 of the 142 seats.
For the BJP, this phase is crucial to expand its urban voter base, while for the TMC, it is about retaining its dominance and securing another term under Mamata Banerjee.
