West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) said her party will win more than 200 seats in the state assembly elections [1].

The prediction comes as the state awaits official vote counting. Banerjee's dismissal of external data suggests a significant divide between party confidence and the projections provided by polling agencies.

Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress will win at least 226 seats out of the 294 available [2, 3]. She rejected the validity of current exit polls, which she said are used for "stock market manipulation" [1].

According to Banerjee, these polls create false narratives designed to undermine the ground campaign of the TMC [1]. The Chief Minister's assertions contrast with some external projections, such as those from News24Online, which projected the BJP could win between 150 and 175 seats [4].

Beyond the seat counts, Banerjee addressed concerns regarding the electoral process. She said the party will move court again to resist voter deletions [1].

These comments were made two days before the scheduled counting of votes [5]. The tension between the official party line and the projected outcomes remains high as the state prepares for the final tally.

“"Exit polls are 'stock market manipulation'."”

The discrepancy between Banerjee's projections and the exit polls indicates a high-stakes battle for the West Bengal Assembly. By framing exit polls as financial manipulation rather than political forecasting, the TMC leader is attempting to maintain supporter morale and delegitimize opposing narratives before the official results are announced.