‘Will win 110 seats in first phase’: Amit Shah predicts big win for BJP after record turnout in Bengal polls

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday Mamata Banerjee After high turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, her government claimed that people in the state voted for change and that the BJP was on the verge of securing an absolute majority.Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said the Trinamool Congress government was on its way out and predicted a landslide victory for the BJP.“Didi is coming, the People’s Party is coming.”He also said voters had already made up their minds when voting began.“People decided to vote Didi out.”Shah claimed that the BJP’s internal assessment showed a significant increase in the number of seats polled in the first phase.“Based on the feedback we received, the people of Bangladesh decided their future in the first phase… 52 seats in 16 constituencies received 92.98% of the vote, which means Didi Chuxing is about to start, the BJP is about to come, fear is about to disappear and trust is about to come. We had an assessment last night with all members of the committee…BJP will win more than 110 seats out of 152…which means after the second phase of elections, we will have a purely Bengal-controlled government with the BJP.“He said the turnout in the first phase reflected public demand for political change.“Yesterday, in the first phase of voting for the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections, all records were broken and the people of Bengal voted with unprecedented zeal and zeal for change in Bengal. The voter turnout is encouraging for those across the country who believe in democracy… I would like to congratulate and thank all the Bengali voters who voted in the first phase. You have so successfully started the journey from fear to trust and the voters in the second phase will also continue this journey from fear to trust.“Shah also promised that if elected, the BJP would appoint a Bengali-born, Bengali-speaking chief minister and focus on law and order, women’s safety and governance reforms.“The formation of the Bengal BJP government is very important. Our first priority is to provide security to Bengali women and liberate them from fear.”Shah took aim at corruption charges, accusing Banerjee’s government of institutionalizing corruption.“Mamata Banerjee institutionalized corruption. Through more than 30 frauds, more than Rs 10,000 crore has been corrupted in Bengal. Our government will surely provide a corruption-free and transparent government.”He added that cases of alleged corruption would be investigated by retired Supreme Court judges and those found guilty would face punishment.Shah also accused the state government of allowing extortion and syndicate rule, saying businessmen would no longer have to pay what he called “Batija tax” or “Babao tax” under the BJP government.On the electoral conduct, Shah commended the Election Commission of India, CAPF and Bangladesh police for peaceful voting.“Because after a long time in Bengal not a single person died (during elections). That this type of election happened is a miracle in itself…”Asserting that his party has strong momentum, Shah concluded: “I am witnessing a tsunami (in support of the BJP). I feel we will win the seat with a huge margin.”The comments come as campaigning intensifies ahead of the next phase of Bengal’s assembly elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party seeking to oust Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress party, which has been in power for more than a decade.