Won't allow ghost voters, Mamata sets 2026 assembly poll target

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday set an ambitious target of securing over 215 seats in the 2026 elections to the 294-member assembly, asserting that her party Trinamool Congress (TMC) would ensure a significant reduction in the BJP’s tally. The BJP bagged 77 seats in the 2021 assembly elections. “We will win more than 215 seats out of 294, in the next Bengal assembly polls and make sure the BJP’s numbers decline further,” Banerjee said while addressing a party meeting. Ms Banerjee alleged that the BJP won the Delhi and Maharashtra Assembly elections by using fake voters and asked TMC leaders and workers to start physically verifying the voters’ list. She also announced a high-level committee with MPs, MLAs, and other leaders to oversee the voter list verification process. "We should ensure that candidates of the BJP, the CPIM, and Congress lose or forfeit their deposits in the elections,” said Banerjee.She asked workers and leaders to connect with the people by going house-to-house. “I will promote those who are doing good work. I will have no mercy for those who are just giving lip service and not doing any work,” she warned.

Bengal will not allow ‘ghost’ voters to hijack democracy!

The Delhi-Maharashtra model of manipulation won’t work here. Smt. @MamataOfficial issued a strong warning to the Election Commission against voter list tampering.

The fight to protect every genuine vote has begun! pic.twitter.com/mVflSzbIBD

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) February 27, 2025

The Trinamul Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also set a target of 215 seats for the Trinamul Congress for the 2026 Assembly polls.“In the Assembly Mamata Banerjee said, we will return to power with two-third majority, which comes to around 194-195 seats. In the 2021 Assembly elections, we won 214 seats. Next year we have to win at least one seat more than the last election.” The Trinamul general secretary also had a word of caution for the party leaders indulging in infighting and factionalism.