Mamata Banerjee calls exit polls 'paid and pressured' by BJP ahead of Bengal count
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee has made a striking pre-count move — alleging that exit polls favouring the BJP were not independent projections but coordinated, paid broadcasts timed at 1.08 pm Wednesday to suppress TMC morale and shield stock markets. With counting just days away, the allegation sets up a charged post-result narrative regardless of who wins.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee alleged on 30 April that exit polls projecting a BJP win in West Bengal were broadcast under pressure and in exchange for money.
She claimed exit poll projections were circulated to media houses at 1.08 pm on Wednesday .
Banerjee asserted TMC's actual tally would reach 226 seats or cross 230 .
She alleged the strategy aimed to prevent a stock market crash and demoralise TMC workers before counting on May 4 .
She personally pledged to guard EVM strong rooms and directed counting agents to remain at tables throughout the count.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, 30 April alleged that exit poll projections showing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections were broadcast by media houses under pressure and in exchange for money allegedly paid by the BJP, which she referred to as the "ruling party" in the country. The claim was made in a video message posted on her official social media handle.
The Core Allegation
Banerjee alleged a dual motive behind what she described as a coordinated strategy: preventing a crash in stock market indices and demoralising All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers ahead of vote counting scheduled for May 4. She claimed to have "specific information" that exit poll projections were circulated to media houses at 1.08 pm on Wednesday. "The BJP did this using the media. I have got specific information that the exit poll projections that were shown by media houses were actually circulated to the media houses at 1.08 p.m. on Wednesday," she said.
Banerjee went further, asserting that the BJP resorted to this alleged tactic because it was aware that the TMC's tally would reach 226 seats or even cross 230, rendering what she called "oppressive tactics" futile. The BJP has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Praise for TMC Workers and Voters
In the same video message, Banerjee thanked TMC workers for remaining on the streets on Wednesday to ensure what she described as free and fair polling, despite alleged atrocities she attributed jointly to central forces and state police. She also expressed gratitude to voters who she said turned out in large numbers despite scorching summer heat and what she termed widespread oppression. "Those who wanted to seize Bengal, their fate has been sealed in the ballot box," she said.
Instructions to Counting Agents
Banerjee issued pointed directives to TMC's counting agents ahead of May 4. She instructed them to guard the strong rooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) until counting begins, pledging to personally join the vigil. "Even I will personally be on the streets to guard the strong rooms. If I can, you will surely be able to do the same," she said. She further urged counting agents to remain at their counting tables throughout the process, ensuring trustworthy replacements if they needed to step away temporarily. "Replace with only those individuals who are trustworthy and cannot be purchased," she said.
Context and What's Next
The West Bengal Assembly election results are due on May 4, with exit polls from multiple media organisations having projected a BJP win — a prediction Banerjee has now publicly and forcefully contested. This comes amid a high-stakes political battle for West Bengal, one of India's most politically significant states, where the TMC has been in power since 2011. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of BJP's eastern India expansion strategy and TMC's ability to retain its stronghold.
Point of View
While energising ground-level workers who may be rattled by projections of a BJP sweep. What is notable is the specificity of her claim: a precise time stamp of 1.08 pm and an assertion of a 226-plus TMC tally. If TMC wins comfortably, it validates her narrative; if it loses, the allegation becomes a rallying cry for a post-result dispute. Either way, the statement puts the media and the BJP on the defensive before a single vote is counted. The deeper question mainstream coverage is missing: why have exit poll methodologies in India consistently struggled with accuracy in states like West Bengal, where social desirability bias and booth-level intimidation distort on-ground sampling?
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mamata Banerjee allege about the West Bengal exit polls?
Mamata Banerjee alleged that exit polls projecting a BJP victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections were broadcast by media houses under pressure and in exchange for money allegedly paid by the BJP. She claimed the projections were circulated to media outlets at 1.08 pm on Wednesday.
When are the West Bengal Assembly election results due?
The West Bengal Assembly election results are scheduled to be counted and declared on May 4. Mamata Banerjee has urged TMC workers and counting agents to remain vigilant at counting centres throughout the day.
What tally did Mamata Banerjee predict for the TMC?
Banerjee claimed that TMC's actual tally would reach 226 seats or even cross 230, which she said the BJP was aware of — prompting the alleged media strategy to demoralise TMC workers before counting.
Why did Mamata Banerjee say the exit polls were timed to affect stock markets?
She alleged that one motive behind broadcasting favourable exit poll projections for the BJP was to prevent a crash in stock market indices, suggesting that a projected BJP win would stabilise markets that might otherwise react negatively to a TMC victory.
What instructions did Mamata Banerjee give to TMC counting agents?
Banerjee instructed TMC counting agents to guard EVM strong rooms until counting begins on May 4, remain at counting tables throughout the process, and ensure only trustworthy individuals serve as temporary replacements if they need to step away.
