FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW Diplomacy abandoned Starmer averts ethics probe over Mandelson appointment but faces more pressure Page 6 Page 9 Troubling asymmentry 91.66%* 85.2% 92.47%* 92 47%* Overall voting in 2021 Ph 2 Ph-2 2021 20 026 Overall voting in n *Provisional TMC 2021: Seat sha : s are TMC 92 BJP 123 59 152 294 Other: 1 Phase 1 (2021) was challenging for TMC, with BJP performing well Phase 2 (2021) shows TMC’s strong regional dominance WEST BENGAL 2021: OVERALL ELECTION RESULTS E Seat share Vote share TMC BJP 215 77 38% 294 Other: 2 t 48% 77 cases of EVM tampering reported: Kolkata, 29 April I n a signature advertisement for Indian democracy, West Bengal witnessed a record voter turnout of 92.52 per cent in phase two of the state Assembly elections across 142 seats on Wednesday, with the figure likely to go up, reflecting robust participation across districts despite intermittent rain. The authorities described the polls as "largely peaceful", with “no deaths and no large-scale violence” reported. “It is an achievement for us that no major cases of poll violence in terms of deaths or bombings have taken place in West Bengal," said state Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in a tweet said West Bengal has recorded New Delhi, 29 April 142 2 294 4 Other: 1 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE 18 BJP West Bengal records historic 92 per cent plus voter turnout the “highest-ever percentage of polling, in both phase I and II since Independence.” Data shared by the Election Commission of India at 10 p.m. put the polling figure at 92.52 per cent, which is set to go up as more votes are collated. The first phase on 23 April had recorded a 93.19 per cent turnout. Earlier, a turnout figure of 91.66 per cent was reported as of 7.45 p.m, taking the combined turnout across both phases to a record 92.47 per cent. Among districts, East Burdwan emerged on top with a voter turnout of 93.73 per cent. In Kolkata, several constituencies also reported strong participation. The marquee constituncy of Bhowanipore, which is witnessing a mega battle between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Kolkata: The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, on Wednesday said 77 cases of tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported in the second phase of the Bengal Assembly elections. In a post on social media platform X, the CEO said repolling is likely to take place before 2 May. “Wherever there are instances of tampering with the machine, be it by using tapes or otherwise, we will have repolls. We have announced from day 1 that we want to have fair and free elections in Bengal. We will study the complaints and announce the repolls on Thursday,” Mr Agarwal told mediapersons earlier in the day. Instances of EVM tampering have been alleged by the BJP at Panihati on the fringes of Kolkata and Falta, among other places. Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. saw much drama through the day, as it recorded 86.65 per cent polling. Earlier, the elections began at 7 a.m. amidst great enthusiasm as voters, cutting across age and social barriers, lined up before booths across seven administrative districts to participate in the democratic exercise. As the morning progressed, there were brief spells of rain in some parts of the state. Umbrellas came out, but the spirit did not ebb. While polling was largely peaceful, isolated allegations • Turn to Page 3 Exit polls show uneven picture for Bengal, clear mandates elsewhere as 2021: Seat share hare Thursday, 30 April 2026 Page 12 Page 11 2026 Phase 1, Phase 2 93.19% Ph 1 Ph-1 | Goals galore as PSG beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in record-setting UCL semifinal 1st leg LAW PAGE West Bengal Votes: High Vo Turnout in Phases I & II Polling for the two phases in West Bengal has ended with strong turnout. As Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari face off, past trends offer clues to what lies ahead. SILIGURI SPORTS WORLD EDITORIAL | 3% 5.3% 5.7% TMC BJP CPI (M) INC Others Party performance shift P 5.3% 5 7% 5.7% 12.3% 38% 25.8% 10.2% 44.9% 48% 2016 2021 Results for all five Assembly elections — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry — will be declared on 4 May, with regional parties TMC and DMK facing particularly high stakes. Exit polls for the high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on Wednesday painted a politically uneven picture, with Bengal emerging as the most fiercely contested and unpredictable battleground, even as clearer and more consistent mandates appeared to take shape in the other four states. In Bengal (294 seats), the marquee face-off between the Trinamul Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has produced strikingly divergent projections across agencies, underscoring both the intensity of the campaign and the deep polarisation among voters. Among the major pollsters, Axis My India projected a comfortable victory for the TMC, estimating 177-187 seats, while placing the BJP at 142-171 seats. In sharp contrast, a BJP BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS EXIT POLLS TMC BJP Axis My India 177-182 142–171 P-MARQ (P Matrize) 120–140 146–161 JVC 131–152 138–159 Poll Diary 99–127 142–171 internal survey pointed to a dramatic upset, projecting the party at around 174 seats and the TMC at about 110. Further complicating the picture, P-MARQ (P Matrize) gave an edge to the BJP with 146-161 seats, while projecting the TMC at 120-140. JVC also suggested a BJP advantage, forecasting 138-159 seats for the party and 131-152 for the TMC. Poll Diary placed the BJP in a strong position with 142-171 seats, with the TMC trailing at 99-127. This unusually wide spread ~ from a clear TMC majority to a possible BJP victory ~ makes Bengal the most volatile and closely watched contest of this election cycle, echoing past elections where exit polls have struggled to accurately capture the final verdict. Outside Bengal, however, the exit poll picture appears far more settled and consistent. In Tamil Nadu (234 seats), there is near-unanimity across agencies pointing to a decisive victory for the DMK-led alliance, with projections consistently placing it in the 150-180 seat range, comfortably ahead of the AIADMK-led alliance at 50–80 seats. In Kerala (140 seats), the contest appears to be tilting towards a political shift, with projections suggesting the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) could return to power after a decade. The Axis My India exit poll estimates the UDF at 78-90 seats, well above the majority mark of 71, while the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is projected at 49-62 seats. The BJP-led NDA is expected to remain marginal, with 0-3 seats. In Assam (126 seats), projections are significantly more aligned, pointing to a clear return of the BJP-led NDA. Axis My India has projected the NDA at 88-100 seats and the Congress-led alliance at 24-36, while other agencies broadly place the NDA in the 75-100 seat range against 25-50 for the Opposition. In Puducherry (30 seats), exit polls suggest a fragmented but NDA-leaning outcome, with most projections giving the alliance 16-22 seats, compared to 8-14 for the CongressDMK bloc. Smaller players and independents are expected to remain marginal but could still play a role in a closely contested Assembly. Taken together, the exit polls point to a multi-layered national verdict shaped by strong regional dynamics ~ with the TMC holding ground but under pressure in Bengal, the DMK firmly in command in Tamil Nadu, Kerala poised for a potential UDF comeback, and the BJP-led NDA consolidating its position in Assam while maintaining an advantage in Puducherry. • More reports: Page 4 PM Modi predicts BJP ‘hat-trick’ in five-state We’re coming back with two-third majority, says CM polls, targets Congress and SP in Hardoi rally Mamata, alleges high-handedness by Central forces STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Hardoi, 29 April Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday claimed that the BJP is set to score a “hat-trick” of victories in the upcoming five-state polls, while accusing the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) of being “anti-development” and “anti-women.” He made these remarks after inaugurating the 594-kmlong Ganga Expressway here. The Prime Minister said that the BJP-NDA had recently secured a landslide victory in Bihar, creating history. “Just yesterday, the results of local body elections in Gujarat ~ covering municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, town councils and tehsil panchayats ~ were announced. The BJP won 80 to 85 per cent of municipalities and panchayats. I am confident that the BJP is going to score a hat-trick of historic victories in these five states as well. The results of 4 May will strengthen the resolve for a developed India and inject new energy into the country’s development,” he said. Mr Modi also claimed that voting in West Bengal is taking place in a “fearless environment,” unlike in the past. “People are voting without fear. This reflects the strength of the Constitution and India’s democracy. I express my gratitude to the people of Bengal for being conscious of their rights and voting in large numbers,” he said. He added that the second phase of polling in the state was witnessing a strong turnout, with long queues of voters being seen across polling stations. Referring to the issue of women’s reservation in Parliament and state lwgislatures, the Prime Minister alleged that the Congress and SP had once again displayed their “anti-women” stance. “The NDA government introduced the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment. If it had passed, women would have received reservation in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 2029. A large number of women would have been elected to Lucknow and Delhi without affecting other categories. However, the Samajwadi Party opposed the amendment,” he said. Mr Modi further accused the SP of being driven by nepotism and casteism. “They can never rise above such politics and will continue to oppose development. Uttar Pradesh must remain cautious of the Samajwadi Party and its allies,” he added. Highlighting global challenges, the Prime Minister said that while the world is grappling with war, unrest and instability, India continues to progress steadily. “Some forces are trying to defame the country due to their hunger for power, but India is not only secure, it is also setting new development records. We are moving forward with the vision of a self-reliant India and building world-class infrastructure. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 29 April Trinamul Congress will return with a two-thirds majority in the ongoing Assembly election, party chairperson Mamata Banerjee said this afternoon after casting her vote. Miss Banerjee voted at Mitra Institution in Bhowanipore. In the second phase of polling today, over 92 per cent of voters turned out, compared to 93.19 per cent in the first phase held on 23 April. Elections were conducted across 142 constituencies. Miss Banerjee said: “From the information we have received, it is certain that we are coming back with a twothirds majority.” She alleged high-handedness by paramilitary forces, claiming that some personnel had visited the residence of Firhad Hakim. “The youth Trinamul Congress leader in Chetla was arrested and I had gone to Firhad Hakim’s house. CRPF personnel also visited the home of Trinamul councillor of Ward 70, Asim Basu, last night. Asim is a popular leader. He was not present at his residence. The CRPF personnel took away his wife’s cell phone and asked her to tell Asim not to work today. I am shocked at their audacity,” she said. “Look how our workers were beaten overnight. This is not how elections are conducted. This is a festival of democracy, but the BJP is trying to destroy it,” she added. Abhishek Banerjee, after casting his vote, said: “The party’s poll percentage will rise along with the number of seats. We will secure more seats than we did in 2021.” He added: “The Election Commission of India has deployed everything except Rafale aircraft and INS warships. But despite that, the BJP will fall flat. On 4 May, when the results are declared, they will not be seen anywhere.” Mr Banerjee alleged that voters in Bali (Howrah) and Tarakeshwar (Hooghly) were lathicharged. “Instead of reassuring voters, the ECI has terrorised them. We have assured the people who visited polling stations that they can cast their votes fearlessly,” he said. • More election reports: Pages 2, 3