Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, stating that it has zero credibility and accusing it of destroying the state's sports culture. Addressing a rally in Arambagh, Modi criticized the TMC over the mismanagement of Argentine football star Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata last year, attributing it to what he called 'Maha Jungle Raj'. He assured the people that a future BJP government would revive Bengal's sports culture under the 'Khelo India' campaign.
Record Voter Turnout in Phase 1
Polling for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections concluded on Thursday with unprecedented voter participation. According to the Election Commission of India, West Bengal recorded a turnout of 91.91%, while Tamil Nadu registered 84.80%, both significantly higher than their 2021 figures. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described the turnout as the highest since Independence in both states and praised voters for their enthusiastic participation, calling it a celebration of democracy.
District-wise data reflected strong engagement. In West Bengal, Dakshin Dinajpur led with 94.85%, followed by Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri, and Murshidabad, all recording over 90% turnout. Tamil Nadu also saw high participation, with Karur, Salem, Dharmapuri, Erode, and Namakkal among the top-performing districts.
Political Reactions to High Turnout
Despite the high turnout, political parties have offered contrasting interpretations. The AIADMK termed the voter surge in Tamil Nadu as evidence of strong anti-incumbency against the DMK government, claiming it reflects public dissatisfaction and signals a possible political shift. The party also credited the Election Commission for ensuring a largely peaceful polling process. On the other hand, the DMK rejected the anti-incumbency narrative, arguing that the rise in turnout is part of a long-term trend driven by increasing voter numbers and changes in electoral rolls, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Party leaders maintained that the turnout figures are not unusual and should not be overinterpreted politically.
BJP Confident of Victory in Bengal
In West Bengal, BJP leaders expressed confidence in securing a decisive mandate, linking the high turnout to voter support for change. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar stated that the BJP is going to form the government with a two-thirds majority. He praised the Election Commission for its role in ensuring smooth polling, acknowledging isolated incidents but overall calling the voting process good.
TMC's Tanmay Ghosh Predicts Landslide Victory
Trinamool Congress State General Secretary Tanmay Ghosh expressed confidence over the return of the Mamata Banerjee-led government, claiming that the party will win at least 230 to 250 seats. Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said that 'no outsider', including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will be seen in West Bengal from 11 am on May 4.
Mamata Banerjee's Bazaar Outreach
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took her campaign to the grassroots, visiting a local market in Kolkata to interact with vegetable sellers and shoppers. Dressed in her signature white saree, she discussed the challenges faced by small-scale vendors and promised continued support through state-run welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar. The visit served as a visual counter to the BJP's outreach efforts in urban markets.
Kejriwal Accuses BJP-EC Conspiracy
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal alleged a BJP-EC conspiracy leading to the deletion of 90 lakh voters from the electoral rolls in West Bengal under the SIR exercise. Addressing an election rally, he urged those whose names were allegedly deleted to support the TMC. He accused Prime Minister Modi of insulting the people of the state by deploying 3.5 lakh security personnel for the polls.
Abhishek Banerjee Claims Exposure of Secret Meeting
TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged a clandestine collusion between the BJP and an election official. He claimed to have exposed a secret meeting at a local hotel, framing the subsequent transfer of district police officials by the Election Commission as an act of political vendetta. Banerjee provided specific details, claiming that a BJP candidate met with an official identified as Purushottam Das in Room No. 208 of the Sagarika Hotel in Diamond Harbour.
Violence in Jagaddal Ahead of PM Modi's Visit
Tensions reached a boiling point in North 24 Parganas as violent clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters in front of the Jagaddal Police Station. The spark for the violence was reportedly the tearing of political flags and posters put up for the Prime Minister's visit. In a significant escalation, crude bombs were hurled at the residence of BJP MLA Pawan Singh, leaving at least three people injured. The injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
With Phase 1 now complete, attention turns to the remaining phases in West Bengal and the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The high turnout has intensified political rhetoric across parties, with each camp interpreting the numbers to its advantage. As campaigning continues in pending constituencies, the focus will remain on voter sentiment, alliances, and ground-level mobilisation, all of which will play a crucial role in determining the final outcome of Election 2026.
