Amid exit poll predictions that BJP will form next govt at Centre, Mamata Banerjee completes eight years in office in Bengal
Kolkata, May 20 (IBNS): At a time when majority of exit polls are predicting that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA will form the government at the Centre for the second straight time, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government in the state completed eight years in the office.
Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congess had ended the Left Front rule in the state to come to power in Bengal in 2011.
She tweeted: " On May 20, 2011 the first Maa, Mati, Manush Government took oath of office. It has been eight momentous years, during which we have worked for the welfare of people. Our pledge is to turn Bangla into Biswa Bangla (best in the world)."
On May 20, 2011 the first Maa, Mati, Manush Government took oath of office. It has been eight momentous years, during which we have worked for the welfare of people. Our pledge is to turn Bangla into Biswa Bangla (best in the world)
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 20, 2019
The BJP's highly emotive campaign focussed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and nationalism appears to have convinced voters and won the NDA a second consecutive term at the Centre, if the exit polls results beamed by various news channels after the end of the last round of elections are any indications.
Most exit polls indicate the NDA would win over 300 seats while the UPA would end up with something around 127. The aligned parties are expected to get around 115 seats.
The BJP had initially focussed their campaign around the Balakot air strike following the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans. In the course of the campaign, the BJP gradually started focussing on nationalism and fully used their publicity machinery to project Narendra Modi as the strong leader without match who was the perfect person to lead India for the next five years.
Mamata has, however, tweeted to say she does not believe in exit polls. She said: "I don’t trust Exit Poll gossip. The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip."
I don’t trust Exit Poll gossip. The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip. I appeal to all Opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2019
"I appeal to all Opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together," she said.
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