‘110 seats out of 152’: Amit Shah reads Bengal mood after record turnout in Phase 1, predicts sweeping BJP win
The Statesman | 24 April 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday projected a decisive win for the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, asserting that internal assessments point to the party securing over 110 seats out of the 152 constituencies that went to polls in the first phase.
The remarks come a day after the opening round of voting saw a heavy turnout across districts, setting the tone for a closely watched Assembly election where the BJP is attempting to dislodge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Shah framed the turnout as a signal of shifting political sentiment, suggesting that the contest has moved into a decisive phase.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said, “In the feedback we have received, the people of Bengal have decided their future at the first phase… 92.98% voting done on the 52 seats in the 16 districts meant that Didi is about to go and BJP is set to come; fear is about to go, and trust is going to come. We did an assessment with all the members of the committee last night… The BJP is going to win more than 110 seats out of 152 seats… This means that after the second election phase, we are going to make the government of the BJP purely in Bengal.”
He linked the high voter turnout to what he described as growing support for development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the scale of participation reflected a wider endorsement of change.
Shah said the party’s internal review, carried out after polling concluded, indicates a strong lead for BJP candidates across constituencies that voted in the first phase.
“The BJP’s Bengal team has conducted its assessment. Based on this, I can say that out of 152 seats, the BJP is likely to win more than 110. Taking the second phase into account as well, the BJP is set to form the government in Bengal,” he said.
He also struck a confident note about the next round of polling, saying the momentum would carry forward. “There was a great apprehension expressed here that while there is public support, will it reach the polling stations? Those apprehensions have now ended, and I am confident that there will be even more enthusiasm in voting in the second phase,” Shah said.
The Election Commission reported a turnout of over 91 per cent in the first phase, underlining strong voter participation amid tight security arrangements. Shah described the polling process as notably peaceful.
“I would like to thank the Election Commission, CAPF, and the Bengal Police, because after a long time, this was the first election where not even a single person lost their life. The elections were conducted peacefully,” he said.
Polling for the second phase is scheduled for April 29, while counting of votes will take place on May 4.