West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) said her party will win over 226 seats [1] in the 2026 assembly election.
This assertion comes as a direct challenge to early projections that suggest a significant shift in the state's political landscape. The discrepancy between the leader's confidence and statistical forecasts sets the stage for a high-stakes verification of voter sentiment when official results are released.
Banerjee released a video message from Kolkata on Friday, one day after polling concluded. She said supporters should not trust exit polls, stating that such projections are designed to demoralize party workers and leaders [1].
"We will win over 226 seats, don't trust exit polls," Banerjee said [1].
However, some data contradicts the Chief Minister's outlook. A projection from Today's Chanakya exit poll suggests the Trinamool Congress will secure approximately 100 seats [3]. That same poll projects the Bharatiya Janata Party will sweep the election with 192 seats, plus or minus 11 [3].
Banerjee said these figures are incorrect, stating that the party is going to cross 226 seats and that the polls are meant to undermine the morale of her organization [2]. The Chief Minister said the voters have provided a massive mandate to her administration.
Throughout the campaign, the TMC has focused on its local governance record, a strategy Banerjee believes will outweigh the projections provided by polling agencies [1].
“"We will win over 226 seats, don't trust exit polls."”
The sharp divide between Banerjee's claims and the Today's Chanakya projections highlights the volatility of the 2026 West Bengal electoral cycle. By framing exit polls as psychological warfare intended to demoralize workers, Banerjee is attempting to maintain party discipline and momentum until the official count, regardless of whether the data reflects a genuine swing toward the BJP.
