- By Chetna Shree
- Sat, 02 May 2026 11:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Mamata dismisses exit polls as stock market manipulation.
- Predicts TMC will secure over 200 seats.
- Instructs agents to stay at counting centers.
West Bengal Elections: Ahead of the high-stakes counting day on May 4, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee on Saturday exuded confidence, saying that her party will win more than 200 seats in the ongoing assembly elections.
Dismissing the exit poll projections, most of which favoured the BJP, Banerjee said that such forecasts are done to 'manipulate the stock market'.
Will Win 200-Plus Seats: Mamata
Addressing the party's counting agents via video conferencing, Mamata said, "We are winning and winning by 200+ seats", urging them not to give importance to the 'propaganda and campaign by the BJP and its allies.'
Just 48 hours before the counting, Mamata and TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a high-level meeting with the party's counting agents.
'Exit Poll To Influence The Share Market'
Mamata reminded the counting agents of past exit polls, which had predicted a TMC loss as well. "Such exit polls have no value. The 2021 and 2024 exit polls were way off the mark," she said, adding that such forecasts are meant to manipulate the share market.
Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee instructed party members to provide regular updates to the leadership regarding the situation at counting centres. They emphasised that agents must remain at the counting centres until the entire process concludes.
The chief minister directed that if a TMC candidate appears to lose by a margin of 200 to 300 votes, counting agents must immediately insist on a recount.
"No one should leave the counting centres until the entire process is officially over," she added.
West Bengal Election Exit Poll Results
The projection of the results of the bitterly fought West Bengal Assembly election 2026 has been declared, in which exit polls showed that Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool is likely to be defeated in the election.
Major pollster agencies predicted the BJP's victory, ending Mamata's 15-year-long dominance in Bengal politics. However, it is just a prediction, not the result.
The Jagran Maha Poll predicted a hung assembly as both the TMC and the BJP are likely to settle with 143 seats, while others may win eight constituencies.