If Trinamool comes back to power new Cabinet will take oath on May 6: Kolkata Mayor Hakim
Kolkata, April 30
The West Bengal Minister for Panchayat Affairs & Rural Development and the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Firhad Hakim, on Thursday, expressed confidence about the Trinamool Congress' return to power in West Bengal with a thumping majority after the counting on May 4 and stated that if his party returns to power the new Cabinet will take oath on May 6.
Dismissing the predictions of the majority of the exit polls that have projected the BJP's victory in a neck and neck battler with the ruling Trinamool Congress, Hakim expressed confidence that as per his estimates Trinamool Congress' tally will be over 225 in the 294 seat West Bengal Assembly.
"Trinamool Congress forming the state Cabinet for the fourth consecutive term is a foregone conclusion now. In all probability the new Cabinet led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will, take oath on May 6," Hakim told media persons on Thursday afternoon.
According to him, all the efforts of the BJP by using the Election Commission of India (ECI) will prove futile after the counting will be over on May 4. "Our party workers and leaders and even the innocent voters were threatened by the central forces and all exhibitionism of the central forces will not work. Trinamool Congress cannot be stopped so easily in West Bengal," the city Mayor said.
According to him, the high percentage polling this time, which is described as a signal of anti-incumbency by many, will not go against the Trinamool Congress this time. "Already so many names have been deleted in the Special Intensive Revision exercise by the Election Commission. Had the people not cast their votes their names could have been deleted as Indian citizens. Hence, the polling percentage had been so high this time," Hakim said.
The BJP's state leadership, however, rubbished Hakim's prediction of Trinamool Congress' tally reaching up to 225. "This is for the sake of keeping the party workers charged up for the counting. The imminent fear of defeat is evident in the body languages of the ruling party leaders," said BJP's state vice-president in West Bengal, Jagannath Chattopadhyay.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see such confidence from the Trinamool camp. The high voter turnout is indeed a complex indicator—it could mean people are energized to vote out incumbents or to support them. I guess we'll know by May 4th.
Honestly, I'm from Bengal and living here, I can say the ground reality is different from what these exit polls show. Didi's development work speaks for itself—roads, schools, health infrastructure. BJP ka itna hype hai but public samajhdar hai. 225 is optimistic but not impossible. 😊
Ek baat toh clear hai, EC ke naam par jo pressure banaya gaya, woh democratic process ke khilaf hai. But opposition ko bhi sunna chahiye—overconfidence kabhi acchi nahi hoti. Let the counting happen peacefully.
The claim about high voter turnout due to fear of name deletion is a bit far-fetched, isn't it? People vote for many reasons. But I do find it amusing how both sides are so confident. May 4th will be interesting!
BJP ke log toh sirf media mein bol rahe hain, asli janta TMC ke saath hai. Maa, maati, manush ka jadugar kaam karega. 225 plus confirm! 🔥
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