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Agartala, Tripura
Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the high voter turnout in the ongoing Assembly elections reflects people’s determination to bring the Trinamool Congress (TMC) back to power.
Her remarks came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi linked the strong turnout in the first phase to a possible victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Questioning the Prime Minister’s claim, Banerjee said it was premature to speak of victory while polling was still underway.
“The higher turnout reflects people’s determination to vote for the TMC because they know what is at stake,” she said while campaigning in Kolkata.
“People understand this is their fight to protect their rights. How can the Prime Minister claim victory while voting is still underway?”
“TMC has already moved closer to victory after the first phase of elections,” she added.
Addressing a rally in Mathurapur in South 24 Parganas, Modi said the high turnout indicates that people have overcome the “fear” of the ruling TMC.
“The way women and youth have come out to vote against the TMC has been witnessed by the country. The high turnout clearly shows that fear is being defeated and ‘bharosa’ is set to win,” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed confidence about the BJP’s prospects in the state.
“In 10 days, when counting takes place, I believe the BJP will emerge victorious across the state. I urge the people of Bengal, especially first-time voters, to uproot this ‘nirmam sarkar’. This is the time—the right time,” he added.
Mathurapur is scheduled to go to polls in the second phase on April 29.
A total of 152 out of 294 constituencies across 16 districts voted in the first phase on Thursday, as the prolonged and intense political contest in the state moves towards its culmination.
Among the prominent candidates in this phase are Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, contesting from Nandigram, and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is in the fray from Baharampur.
