Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal Minister for Panchayat Affairs & Rural Development, Firhad Hakim, on Thursday, 30 April, expressed strong confidence that the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) will return to power in West Bengal with a commanding majority after vote counting on May 4, adding that a new Cabinet would take oath on May 6 if the party wins.

Hakim's Confidence on TMC's Tally

Dismissing exit poll projections that have largely forecast a tight contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling TMC, Hakim claimed that his party's tally would cross 225 seats in the 294-seat West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He described a fourth consecutive term for the TMC as a "foregone conclusion."

"Trinamool Congress forming the state Cabinet for the fourth consecutive term is a foregone conclusion now. In all probability the new Cabinet led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take oath on May 6," Hakim told media persons on Thursday afternoon.

Hakim's Explanation for High Voter Turnout

Hakim also offered an alternative reading of the high voter turnout this election cycle, which several analysts had interpreted as a sign of anti-incumbency against the TMC. He attributed the elevated polling percentage to fears among voters that their names could be deleted from electoral rolls under the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s Special Intensive Revision exercise. "Had the people not cast their votes their names could have been deleted as Indian citizens. Hence, the polling percentage had been so high this time," he said.

He also alleged that TMC workers, leaders, and voters had been threatened by central forces deployed during the election, arguing that such pressure would ultimately prove ineffective. "All exhibitionism of the central forces will not work. Trinamool Congress cannot be stopped so easily in West Bengal," Hakim asserted.

BJP Dismisses TMC's Optimism

The BJP's state leadership in West Bengal was quick to reject Hakim's projections. Jagannath Chattopadhyay, the BJP's state vice-president in West Bengal, said the claims were intended to keep TMC workers motivated ahead of the counting day. "This is for the sake of keeping the party workers charged up for the counting. The imminent fear of defeat is evident in the body languages of the ruling party leaders," Chattopadhyay said.

What to Watch on Counting Day

With vote counting scheduled for May 4, the political temperature in West Bengal is running high. The contest between the TMC and the BJP has been one of the most closely watched state elections in recent memory, with exit polls painting a divided picture. Whether Hakim's bullish forecast of 225+ seats or the BJP's counter-narrative of an imminent upset prevails will become clear within days. A TMC victory would mark an unprecedented fourth straight term for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.