In a major address today, April 24, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the record-breaking 83% voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal elections. Citing a record of 92.98% polling across 152 seats in 16 districts, Shah asserted that the “fear to faith” journey has begun. He commended the Election Commission and security forces for conducting the most peaceful election in decades, noting a zero-fatality rate for the first time in Bengal’s modern electoral history. Based on internal assessments, Shah claimed the BJP is set to win over 110 of the 152 seats from Phase 1 alone. He stated that the surge in voting is a clear mandate for “Parivartan” (change), signaling the end of the TMC’s tenure. Drawing a historical parallel, he predicted that by May 5, the entire “Anga, Banga, and Kalinga” (Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha) region would be under BJP governance, fueled by the development vision of PM Narendra Modi.


