Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the BJP will form the next government in the state. Screengrab: ANI
BJP confident of Bengal victory, claims people voted for change
BJP leaders in West Bengal expressed confidence of forming the government as vote counting began, claiming people have voted for political change
Kolkata, May 4 (PTI) BJP leaders in West Bengal on Monday exuded confidence about winning the assembly elections, asserting that people have voted for a change.
Counting of votes for the 293 seats of the assembly began at 8 am, as the TMC eyes a fourth straight term in power and the BJP seeks to script history by forming its first government in the state.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the BJP will form the next government in the state.
Adhikari is seeking a re-election from Nandigram and taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
"BJP will form the government," he said.
Maintaining that Muslim voters have not gone en masse with the TMC in this election, he claimed that Hindu votes have consolidated in favour of the BJP.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said he was confident of a landslide victory for the party.
"People of the state have already rejected the Trinamool Congress government, and in a few hours, the overwhelming majority of the seats will confirm that in the fight between Mamata Banerjee and the people, people have rejected Mamata Banerjee," Bhattacharya said outside a counting centre in Kolkata.
BJP's Kharagpur Sadar candidate, Dilip Ghosh, claimed that people have voted for change.
"The counting will be conducted in the same manner as the polling. People have voted to bring a new government," he told PTI Videos.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh said the election will blaze the trail for change.
"We firmly believe, with full confidence and trust, that this change will happen and the BJP will win the elections," he said.
BJP's Gaighata candidate Subrata Thakur said his party will get more than 180 seats.
"With Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding us from Delhi, we will form a double-engine government. In past elections, there were strong-arm tactics. This year the EC ensured free and fair polls. People have voted for 'poriborton'," he said.
BJP leader Sishir Bajoria said his party will make a clean sweep in the elections.
"Have you heard anything from Didi's (CM Mamata Banerjee) side? They have fallen silent," he said. PTI