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 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Friday, 01 May 2026 SPORTS WORLD Priced prudence Arsenal, Atletico exchange penalty goals in 1-1 draw in first leg of Champions League semifinals Page 6 Page 12 US blockade is squeezing Iran’s oil industry Page 9 EDITORIAL Mamata Banerjee rejects exit polls, alleges BJP conspiracy STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Today’s Chanakya predicts setback for TMC in Bengal: Kolkata, 30 April A day after the completion of polling in West Bengal, Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly rejected the exit poll projections for the ongoing Assembly elections, calling them part of a “well-planned conspiracy” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate public perception. In a 9-minute video message posted on her X handle following the second phase of polling, Miss Banerjee expressed confidence that the ruling All India Trinamul Congress (TMC) would secure a decisive mandate, crossing the 226-seat mark in the 294-member Assembly. Addressing the people of the state, Miss Banerjee began by thanking voters for braving extreme weather conditions to exercise their democratic rights. “We are all grateful for casting your vote despite excessive heat,” she said, adding, “I am also grateful to our party workers who, despite enduring torture by the central forces, local forces, and the central government machinery, stood firm.” She launched a scathing attack on the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging misuse of power and resources. “Those who wanted to seize us have been seized in the ballot box,” she remarked, claiming that leaders and machinery from “19 BJPruled states” were mobilised against her party. Refuting the exit poll results that predicted a BJP majority, Miss Banerjee alleged that the projections were “manufactured” and circulated under pressure. New Delhi: Public opinion firm Today’s Chanakya, on Thursday projected a significant setback for the TMC-led alliance in Bengal, predicting that the BJP could get 192 seats (plus/minus 11 seats) and the Trinamul Congress 100 seats (plus/minus 11 seats). The rest could get two seats (plus/minus two seats). Meanwhile, Axis My India has said it would withhold its exit poll estimates for the Bengal Assembly elections, citing serious methodological concerns arising from an unusually high voter non-response rate. The Statesman, in some of its editions dated 30 April 2026, had carried a report that erroneously attributed a seat projection to Axis MyIndia. The attribution was incorrect. Page 3 “I want to assure you that what is being shown on television was circulated from the BJP office at 1:08 p.m. Money was given to ensure it is aired. I can say with confidence that we will cross 226. I have faith in the people’s mandate,” she said. “We may even reach 230 seats. The way people have voted gives me complete confidence,” she said. Terming the exit polls as BJP’s “last card,” she alleged a larger economic motive behind their dissemination. “I have specific information that the share market might crumble. To keep it steady, they played this game,” she claimed. SC refuses to hear AIIMS plea against terminating 30-week-old pregnancy of a minor girl, urges rethink on abortion law PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 30 April The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a curative petition filed by AIIMS, Delhi, against its earlier direction permitting termination of a more than 30-week pregnancy of a 15-year-old rape survivor, making it clear that the final decision must rest with the minor and her parents, not the medical institution. A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasised that the choice to continue or terminate the pregnancy cannot be taken away from the individual concerned. The Court said AIIMS could place medical facts before the family, but it would not allow any institution to decide on their behalf. Justice Bagchi underlined the need to respect individual autonomy, stating: “Give respect to your citizen. Show data to the parents and if they choose to keep it, then so be it. But if they think the mental health is in jeopardy, they will take a call.” The Court indicated that the minor and her parents must be counselled comprehensively, with full disclosure of medical risks and outcomes by specialists, so that they can take an informed decision. It clarified that once such counselling is done, the Court would consider the course chosen by the family. AIIMS had approached the Court seeking reconsideration of its earlier order, citing medical concerns over late-stage termination and suggesting that continuation of pregnancy could improve the chances of survival of the foetus. However, the Bench was not persuaded to revisit its decision, observing that the matter should not turn into an adversarial contest between the State and the victim. “Let us not make a fight between the State and its citizens. We will not allow the institution to choose. The institution can convey it to the parents. They will decide,” stated Justice Bagchi. The court stressed that an unwanted pregnancy, particularly in cases of rape involving a minor, cannot be imposed upon the victim. They also cautioned against shifting the focus entirely to the foetus at the cost of the survivor’s physical and mental well-being. There is “too much focus on the child (foetus) and not the mother who has gone through such pain,” Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked.