West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has instructed party counting agents to seek immediate recounts in booths where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads by margins of 500 to 700 votes, as preparations intensify ahead of the announcement of Assembly election results.

The directives were issued during a virtual meeting attended by party leaders and counting agents from all 294 Assembly constituencies. Banerjee emphasised vigilance and coordination, urging workers to reach counting centres early and operate in a disciplined and unified manner. She also advised agents to remain stationed near counting venues from Sunday night to avoid delays on the day of counting.

According to party sources, Banerjee stressed the importance of closely monitoring the counting process, particularly in closely contested booths. She directed agents to demand recounts not only in cases where the BJP leads by 500–700 votes but also where margins extend up to 1,000 votes. Expressing confidence in her party’s prospects, she said the TMC is poised to win more than 200 seats, but cautioned against complacency.

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Banerjee further instructed that no counting agent should leave the centre until she addresses the media after results are declared on May 4. In constituencies with remote or rural counting centres, she advised candidates and their teams to arrive a day in advance and arrange accommodation nearby. Agents were also told to carry notebooks and pens to document proceedings throughout the counting process.

During the meeting, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee raised concerns about exit polls predicting a BJP advantage, alleging they were designed to influence financial markets. He claimed similar patterns had been observed during the 2021 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and asserted that the BJP was unlikely to form the government in the state.

Abhishek Banerjee also criticised the Election Commission, alleging that TMC workers faced challenges from central forces at the local level. He warned of potential legal action against officials accused of misconduct, while maintaining that despite these hurdles, the TMC would improve upon its 2021 performance, when it secured 215 seats.

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