Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday voiced strong confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral prospects, declaring that the party has already gained decisive momentum after the first phase of polling.

Speaking at a press conference, Sarma claimed the BJP had effectively secured 110 seats in the opening phase and was poised to achieve landmark victories in both Assam and West Bengal. “This time, we will win 100 seats in Assam. We will get 200 seats in West Bengal. We will reach a century in Assam, and we will reach a double century in West Bengal,” he said.

He described the political atmosphere in West Bengal as unprecedented, noting that voter sentiment had shifted dramatically in favour of the BJP. “The tsunami that has come—if it goes above 200 seats in West Bengal, it will not be a matter of surprise. I have attended elections in 2016 and 2019, but this time the public’s attitude towards the BJP is something we have never seen before,” Sarma remarked.

The Chief Minister added that voters who were previously hesitant had now begun openly supporting the party, reflecting what he called a decisive change in the state’s political climate.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that West Bengal and Tamil Nadu recorded the highest-ever voter turnout since Independence during the first phase of polling. West Bengal registered 91.91 per cent turnout, with several districts crossing the 90 per cent mark, including Dakshin Dinajpur (94.85%), Cooch Behar (94.54%), Birbhum (93.70%), Jalpaiguri (93.23%), and Murshidabad (92.93%).

Polling for the remaining 142 constituencies in West Bengal will be held on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.