TMC's Dola Sen dismisses exit polls: 'Bengal belongs to Mamata'
Synopsis
TMC MP Dola Sen has flatly rejected exit poll projections showing the BJP ahead in West Bengal, invoking Mamata Banerjee's unbroken dominance across 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 as proof that surveys consistently misread Bengal. With Matrize projecting BJP at 146–161 seats and TMC at 125–140, the actual count will settle one of Indian politics' most watched rivalries.
Key Takeaways
TMC MP Dola Sen dismissed West Bengal exit polls on 30 April , saying her party does not pay attention to such projections.
Sen cited exit poll failures across 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 elections in Bengal to back her scepticism.
She flagged the transfer of 496 out of 506 IPS officers nationally — most from Bengal — as evidence of unprecedented central intervention in the polls.
TMC MP Saugata Roy also rejected exit poll findings, questioning both their methodology and results.
Matrize exit polls project the BJP winning 146–161 seats with 42.5% vote share, against TMC's projected 125–140 seats and 40.8% vote share.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Dola Sen on Thursday, 30 April dismissed exit poll projections for the West Bengal Assembly elections, saying her party does not pay attention to such surveys. Speaking to IANS in Kolkata, Sen invoked TMC's track record across multiple election cycles to argue that exit polls have consistently failed to capture the ground reality in Bengal.
Sen's Remarks on Exit Polls
Addressing reporters, Dola Sen drew on a string of past elections to make her case. "We don't bother about exit polls. I don't know whether you were in journalism then or not, but we have seen exit polls in 2021 — and not only in 2021, but also in 2016, 2019, and 2024. We have witnessed them repeatedly. But Trinamool Congress is Trinamool Congress, and Mamata is Mamata," she said, referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Sen further argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was overreaching in its ambitions for Bengal. "The BJP desperately wants Bengal, so they are dreaming big. They are here, trying their best, and naturally, they are hopeful," she said, adding that the election had been "unprecedented" in its administrative measures.
Election Commission Deployment Cited
Sen specifically flagged the scale of central oversight during the polls, pointing to the transfer of 496 IPS officers out of 506 across the country — the majority from Bengal — alongside large-scale deployment of central forces, micro-observers, and extensive logistical arrangements. "They have tried everything this time, so they have begun dreaming even more. Let them dream; I extend my best wishes for their dreams," she said.
She was unequivocal, however, that the BJP's aspirations would not translate into results. "It is unfortunate that their dream will not come true. Let them dream, but Bengal is of Mamata, for Mamata, and by Mamata," Sen reiterated.
Saugata Roy Also Rejects Projections
Fellow TMC MP Saugata Roy echoed Sen's scepticism, going further to question the credibility of exit poll methodology itself. "No, I do not agree with exit polls at all. I question both their methodology and their results. If one looks at past elections, exit polls have never been entirely accurate," he said.
What the Matrize Exit Poll Shows
The pushback from TMC leaders comes against the backdrop of Matrize exit poll projections that indicate significant gains for the BJP in West Bengal. According to the survey, the BJP is expected to secure between 146 and 161 seats, with a projected vote share of 42.5%. The ruling TMC, by contrast, is projected to win between 125 and 140 seats, with an estimated vote share of 40.8%. Other parties are projected to win 6 to 10 seats, accounting for 16.7% of the vote.
If the Matrize projections hold, it would mark a historic shift in Bengal's political landscape — one that TMC leaders are firmly contesting ahead of the count. All eyes will now be on the actual results to determine whether exit polls or TMC's confidence proves closer to the mark.
Point of View
If even partially accurate, would signal a structural erosion in TMC's vote share that no amount of confidence can paper over. The real question isn't whether exit polls are flawed — they often are — it's whether the BJP has finally cracked the organisational gap in Bengal that has eluded it for over a decade. The transfer of 496 IPS officers and central force deployment, cited by Sen as overreach, cuts both ways: it also signals an election administration that went to unusual lengths to ensure a level field, which TMC may find harder to dismiss once results are in.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did TMC MP Dola Sen say about the West Bengal exit polls?
Dola Sen said TMC does not pay attention to exit polls and cited their inaccuracy in past Bengal elections in 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024. She insisted that 'Bengal is of Mamata, for Mamata, and by Mamata,' dismissing BJP's prospects.
What do the Matrize exit polls project for West Bengal?
Matrize exit polls project the BJP winning between 146 and 161 seats with a 42.5% vote share, while TMC is projected to win 125 to 140 seats with 40.8% of the vote. Other parties are expected to take 6 to 10 seats.
Why did Dola Sen mention the transfer of IPS officers?
Sen cited the transfer of 496 out of 506 IPS officers nationally — most from Bengal — along with large-scale central force deployment and micro-observers, to argue that this election was unprecedented in its administrative intervention, which she suggested inflated BJP's expectations.
What did TMC MP Saugata Roy say about exit polls?
Saugata Roy said he does not agree with exit polls at all, questioning both their methodology and their results. He pointed to past elections as evidence that exit polls have never been entirely accurate.
When will the West Bengal election results be known?
The exit poll projections cover the West Bengal Assembly elections held in April 2025. Actual results will be declared on the official counting day, which will confirm whether the BJP or TMC has secured a majority in the state.
