In a politically charged address ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) All India General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee delivered a bold electoral forecast, asserting that the BJP would fail to cross 50 seats— marking a significant drop from its 2021 tally of 77 seats.
Speaking at his annual Silent Revolution meeting, where he reviews the utilisation of his MP fund, Abhishek declared, “They claim the Bharatiya Janata Party will capture Bengal in 2026. Let me make it clear— this time, they won’t even cross 50 seats. I’m making this prediction here and now.” While acknowledging that he rarely ventures into political predictions, the TMC leader confidently added, “Whenever I do make a prediction, by the grace of God, it comes true— if not fully, at least in spirit.”
Abhishek justified his prediction by underscoring the unwavering dedication of Trinamool workers and the trust reposed in them by the people of Bengal. “I’m saying this with conviction because I trust the people. I trust our grassroots workers who stand with the people all year round,” he affirmed.
In a scathing critique of the BJP-led Centre, Abhishek accused the ruling party of vindictive politics against Bengal. “The Centre should aid Bengal’s development. But because they lost the mandate here, they’re punishing not just Trinamool, but every citizen of Bengal. Who’s withholding our rightful dues? Who’s truly anti-national?” he questioned.
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Responding to BJP’s alleged "Operation Sindoor" strategy— an attempt to engineer defections within TMC ahead of the polls—Abhishek issued a defiant warning saying, “They may have succeeded in other states by buying MLAs, but this is Bengal. Their nefarious attempts will fall flat here.”
Addressing recent tensions in Diamond Harbour, Abhishek alleged that the saffron camp tried to exploit the situation for political mileage. “They wanted to indulge in corpse politics. But in Maheshtala, women stood up and drove them away,” he said, applauding the public’s resistance. He also expressed confidence in an increased vote share in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, reinforcing his belief in public support.
In a veiled attack on Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Abhishek mocked his political inconsistency and frequent party-hopping.
“You may go from uncle to grandfather, grandfather to uncle and back again. But for the next 50 years, you won’t be able to dislodge Trinamool Congress from the hearts of Bengal’s people. If you have the guts, take my challenge!” said the Bengal’s ruling party’s second-in-command.
Taking a final dig at the BJP’s alleged misuse of central agencies like the ED and CBI, Abhishek said, “Bring on more ED, bring on more CBI. Like iron hit by a hammer, we will only get stronger with every blow.”
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