“No one can win an election by making SIR an issue,” Dilip Ghosh takes a jibe at Mamata Banerjee

BJP leader and Kharagpur Sadar candidate Dilip Ghosh on Thursday described the voter turnout in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections as “historic” and expressed confidence that his party would secure a strong mandate. He praised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for successfully conducting the elections in two phases and said the high participation, especially in and around Kolkata, reflected a decisive public mood.

Ghosh said the voting pattern across both phases indicated continuity and growing momentum for change, comparing it to a cricket match where performance in both innings determines the result. He criticised Mamata Banerjee for focusing on the Special Intensive Revision issue, stating that elections cannot be won on a single agenda. He added that the combined efforts of the public, administration and election authorities ensured smooth polling.

Highlighting the scale of participation, he pointed to the record turnout of over 92 percent across phases, calling it the highest since independence. He claimed that the trend suggested a shift in voter sentiment and said the BJP would win enough seats to form the government, though he refrained from giving an exact number. He asserted that the party would secure a mandate strong enough to govern without relying on defections.

Responding to speculation about a potential cabinet, Ghosh dismissed discussions around ministerial positions, stating that his priority is forming the government rather than securing a portfolio. He added that decisions regarding ministries can be taken later and emphasised that the focus remains on achieving a decisive political change in the state.