Kolkata, 27 February (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has set a target of winning more than 215 out of 294 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections. She asserted that her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will significantly reduce the number of seats held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a party meeting on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee stated, “We will win more than 215 seats out of 294 and further shrink the BJP’s presence in the state.” She took a jibe at the BJP by recalling its slogans from previous elections.

“In the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP had claimed ‘200 paar’ but suffered a defeat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they boasted about ‘400 paar’ but failed to secure a majority. Abhishek Banerjee was absolutely right in his statement. We will achieve a two-thirds majority, but we need to aim for an even bigger victory. This time, BJP candidates should lose their deposits,” she declared.

TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, also called upon party workers to ensure a massive victory. “The battle for Bengal’s future has begun. We must ensure TMC’s triumph and re-elect Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister for a fourth consecutive term. Our goal is to secure a two-thirds majority in the 2026 Assembly elections,” he emphasized.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, TMC won 213 seats, securing a majority, while the BJP secured 77 seats. Ahead of the 2026 elections, TMC is strategizing to strengthen its support base and challenge the BJP’s presence in the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / S P Singh