Mamata Banerjee on Friday rejected exit poll projections predicting a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the West Bengal Assembly elections, alleging that the surveys were circulated “at the instruction of the BJP” to demoralise Trinamool Congress workers ahead of counting on 4 May.

In a video message shared on social media, the Trinamool Congress chief claimed television channels had aired projections sent directly from the BJP office.

“What was shown on television was circulated from the BJP office at 1.08 pm. Money was paid to ensure it was aired. I have specific information. They are saying forcefully that this has to be done,” Banerjee alleged.

Most exit polls released after the completion of voting predicted a majority for the BJP in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148 seats.

‘We will cross 226 seats’

Projecting confidence, Banerjee asserted that the TMC would comfortably return to power with a decisive mandate.

“We will cross 226 seats in 2026. We might cross even 230 seats. I have complete faith in the massive mandate given by the people,” she said.

She thanked voters for participating in large numbers despite what she described as “heat and alleged intimidation”.

In a strongly worded political message, Banerjee said, “Those who tried to subdue Bengal have been subdued by the ballot,” while also praising TMC workers who, according to her, “fought relentlessly and endured attacks”.

Targets Amit Shah, central forces

The chief minister accused Amit Shah and central forces of acting in favour of the BJP during polling.

She alleged that women, children, journalists and TMC workers were assaulted in several areas and claimed many of her party workers had been deliberately detained to prevent them from functioning as polling agents.

Banerjee specifically referred to areas such as Bhatpara, Naihati, Jagaddal and even her own constituency Bhabanipur, alleging intimidation and late-night searches.

Referring to the reported death of an elderly voter in Udaynarayanpur during polling, Banerjee expressed sympathy for the family.

She said the TMC would stand beside them and alleged that her party workers “faced one-sided violence but did not leave the field”.

Exit polls part of ‘larger conspiracy’

Banerjee claimed the exit poll narrative was designed to weaken the morale of TMC workers and stabilise financial markets before counting.

“They are playing their last game through sections of the media to psychologically weaken our workers and reassure the share market,” she alleged.

She also referred to past elections in 2016 and 2021, suggesting that exit polls had previously failed to accurately predict the final outcome in Bengal.

Directs cadres to guard EVM strong rooms

In one of the sharpest parts of her address, Banerjee instructed party leaders, candidates and workers to remain vigilant around strong rooms storing Electronic Voting Machines.

“They have planned that when EVMs are moved from strong rooms to counting halls, attempts could be made to change the machines. Do not be negligent,” she warned.

She urged party workers to monitor counting centres in shifts through the night.

“Stay awake through the night. In the morning, hand over charge to another team and only then go to sleep. If I can stand guard, you can also stand guard,” Banerjee said.

She also advised candidates not to leave counting tables unattended, even briefly, unless replaced by “trusted people who cannot be bought”.

Calls for restraint

Despite the aggressive tone of her allegations, Banerjee appealed to supporters to remain peaceful.

“Remain calm and disciplined. Have faith in the people of Bengal and have faith in Didi (Banerjee). Wait till the evening of May 4, you will get your answer,” she said.

The West Bengal election has witnessed one of the most intense contests in recent years, with both the BJP and TMC running aggressive statewide campaigns.

The counting of votes on 4 May is expected to decide whether Banerjee secures a fourth consecutive term or whether the BJP succeeds in ending the TMC’s long rule in the state.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its verdict on a plea by Congress leader Pawan Khera seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed by Assam Police. The complaint was filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul Chandurkar heard the matter after Gauhati High Court turned down Khera’s anticipatory bail plea, setting the stage for a broader contest over personal liberty, political speech and the limits of police power.

Appearing for Khera, senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi framed the case as one that goes beyond an individual FIR.

Arguing that Khera is “not a hardened criminal”, Singhvi alleged that Khera was being targeted by a “constitutional cowboy”, a pointed reference to the Assam chief minister’s public posturing on the case.

At the heart of the defence was the argument that arrest, in this case, would be punitive rather than investigative.

Singhvi stressed that Khera is a public figure with a fixed address, no criminal antecedents, and no incentive to evade the law. Most of the charges, he noted, are bailable and relate to alleged defamation offences that ordinarily do not require custodial interrogation.

The show of force, he added, was disproportionate: “50–70 Assam police personnel” arriving at Khera’s Delhi residence “as if he is a terrorist”.

He argued that the prosecution bore the imprint of political vendetta, with the threat of arrest amplified through public statements rather than confined to the courtroom.

Opposing the plea, solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, told the court that the documents submitted by Khera were “fabricated and forged”, asserting that no such passports had been issued by any competent authority. He contended that custodial interrogation was essential to trace the origin of the documents, identify those who may have aided Khera, and determine whether any foreign links were involved.

Singhvi told the bench that some remarks attributed to Sarma were “unprintable” and claimed the chief minister had publicly suggested that Khera could spend the rest of his life in an Assam jail. Such rhetoric, Singhvi argued, erodes the institutional restraint expected of constitutional office holders, invoking Dr B.R. Ambedkar to underline the gravity of executive overreach in a constitutional democracy.

Invoking the guarantee of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, Singhvi questioned the necessity of arrest at the pre-trial stage. “Even assuming a conviction at the end, what justifies arrest now?” he asked, pressing the court to draw a line between investigation and intimidation.

The state’s case, however, rests on a different footing. In rejecting anticipatory bail, the Gauhati High Court termed Khera a “flight risk” and underscored that the allegations go beyond political sparring, involving charges such as cheating and forgery.

The HC had noted that the remarks made by Khera were directed at a private individual — Sarma’s wife — rather than the chief minister, thereby weakening the defence of political rhetoric. It also held that custodial interrogation was necessary to establish the source and authenticity of documents cited by Khera.

This was second time that Khera appeared in the apex court in a month. On 17 April, the bench had refused to vacate a stay on transit bail granted by the Telangana High Court, shielding him from immediate arrest.

The legal battle, as per experts, sits at the intersection of two competing claims: the state’s assertion of investigative necessity and the defence’s warning against the criminalisation of political speech.

The Congress on Thursday intensified its attack on the Centre over the proposed caste census, accusing the government of failing to provide any roadmap for the exercise and alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deliberately delaying its implementation.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said it has been a full year since the government announced that caste enumeration would be included in the upcoming census, yet no concrete details have emerged.

“A full year has passed. The details of how this caste enumeration will be done are still awaited. There has been no dialogue with Opposition parties, state governments, or even experts,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

Highlighting what he termed a “dramatic U-turn” by the prime minister, Ramesh outlined a timeline of the Centre’s shifting stance. He noted that on 21 July 2021, the government had informed Parliament that it had taken a policy decision not to enumerate caste-wise population. This position was reiterated in a 21 September 2021 affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, which argued that court-mandated caste enumeration would interfere with government policy.

Ramesh also pointed to political exchanges over the years, including a letter by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on 16 April 2023, urging the inclusion of caste data in the Census, and the Prime Minister’s 28 April 2024 remarks in a television interview, where he criticised the demand as reflective of “urban naxal” thinking.

“The prime minister owes the Congress leadership an apology for that accusation. More importantly, he owes the people of India an explanation for this reversal,” Ramesh said.

He further claimed that Kharge’s follow-up letter dated 5 May 2025, seeking dialogue on the issue, went unacknowledged. “The concerns raised remain valid even today,” he added, accusing the government of sidelining the issue despite its importance.

Quoting Kharge, Ramesh reiterated the Congress position that a caste census is essential for ensuring social and economic justice. “Conducting such an exercise, which gives rights to the backward, oppressed and marginalised sections, cannot be considered divisive,” Kharge had said in his letter.

The Congress has repeatedly alleged that the government is attempting to push the caste census into “cold storage”, a charge that has gained traction following the recently concluded special session of Parliament.

As the political debate sharpens, the demand for a comprehensive caste census continues to remain a key flashpoint between the ruling government and the Opposition.

With PTI inputs

West Bengal has recorded a historic 92.47 per cent voter turnout in its two-phase assembly elections, the highest ever in the state since Independence, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

The turnout figures reflect strong voter participation across both phases. Phase I, held on 23 April, saw a polling percentage of 93.19 per cent, while Phase II recorded 91.66 per cent by 7:45 pm. The combined turnout stood at 92.47 per cent across the two phases.

With a voter base of 6.81 crore, the state has now surpassed its previous best of 84.72 per cent recorded in the 2011 assembly elections.

Women voters outpaced men in participation, with 92.28 per cent of women casting their votes compared to 91.07 per cent of men in Phase II. Similar trends were observed in Phase I as well.

Calling the milestone a reflection of democratic strength, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “For the highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal since Independence, the EC salutes each voter of the state.”

West Bengal’s record turnout comes amid a broader surge in voter participation across several states. Tripura continues to hold the national record with 93.61 per cent turnout in its 2013 Assembly elections.

Other states also saw notable participation this cycle, including Assam (85.38 per cent) and Puducherry (89.83 per cent), both surpassing their previous highs. Tamil Nadu, which went to polls on April 23 for all 234 seats, recorded a turnout of 78.29 per cent in 2011 as its highest earlier benchmark.

The counting of votes for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will be conducted on 4 May.

With PTI inputs