“Didi is leaving, BJP is coming”: BJP to win over 110 seats after Phase 1 voting in Bengal – says Union Home Minister

After the completion of the first phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today addressed a press conference in Kolkata and congratulated all voters. He stated that people have voted for change. People have come out of fear and voted for trust. He expressed hope that the second phase will also witness fearless and trust-driven voting. He said that a wave of change has swept across Bengal and also praised the Election Commission. He confidently stated that based on the assessment of the first phase, the BJP is already on the path to a decisive majority.

Amit Shah said that after a long time, elections in Bengal have been conducted without any loss of life, which is nothing short of a “miracle.” He thanked the Election Commission, central forces, and the police, stating that people of Bengal participated in the festival of democracy without fear. Compared to previous elections, the number of injured is also significantly lower this time.

The Home Minister stated that after polling in 152 constituencies across 16 districts, BJP’s internal reports suggest that the party is set to win more than 110 seats in this phase. He added, “92.98% voter turnout proves that the people of Bengal are bidding farewell to Didi and bringing BJP to power.”

He further presented data to highlight that compared to previous years, this election has been largely peaceful: in 2016, 1,278 people were injured; in 2021, 1,681 were injured; in 2023 (Panchayat elections), 664 were injured; and in 2024 (General elections), 761 were injured. In contrast, yesterday (2026 Phase 1), fewer than 30 people were injured and there were zero deaths, indicating a largely fear-free voting environment.

He stated that the primary goal of a BJP government will be to ensure fear-free conditions for women. Under BJP rule, any woman wishing to step out even at 1 AM on a scooter will be able to do so without fear. Fielding candidates who were victims of incidents like RG Kar and Sandeshkhali reflects this commitment.

He said that upon coming to power, “nephew tax” and the syndicate system will be permanently abolished. A special committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge will be formed to investigate corruption worth ₹10,000 crore over the past few years.

Amit Shah also clarified that the next Chief Minister of Bengal will be a son of the soil, someone who speaks Bengali and has studied in a Bengali-medium school.

He assured that under a BJP government, no one will be allowed to obstruct the celebration of festivals such as Ram Navami, Saraswati Puja, or Durga Visarjan.

He emphasized that for BJP, “change” does not merely mean a change of legislators or party, but signifies an infiltration-free Bengal, corruption-free governance, and employment opportunities for the youth. He also urged voters to participate fearlessly in the second phase of polling.