Shah says BJP will win 110 seats in first phase of polling, promises CAA in Bengal

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted the BJP had sealed its victory in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls itself, claiming the party would win 110 seats in the polling held on April 23.

Addressing an election rally, he promised swift implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), particularly for the Matua community, once the BJP came to power in the state.

"Voting for the first phase is over. In the very first phase itself, the BJP will win 110 seats, and Didi will be thrown out of power. Instead of TMC, the BJP will form a government here," he said.

Voting was held in 152 of the 294 Assembly constituencies of Bengal on April 23 and recorded a turnout of over 92 per cent. In the second phase, polling will be held in 142 constituencies on April 29.

Shah targeted Banerjee over her opposition to the CAA and accused her government of denying citizenship rights to members of the Matua community and keeping them in fear.

"Didi does not allow the implementation of the CAA law. You form the government of the lotus (BJP's poll symbol), and after May 5, the BJP government will ensure that every brother and sister of the Matua community receives citizenship," he said.

The former BJP chief said the Matua community, a politically influential refugee population with roots in Bangladesh, would no longer have to live in uncertainty under a BJP government.

"People of the Matua community do not need to live in fear anymore," he added.

Shah also launched a sharp attack on the TMC government over women's safety, citing incidents such as the RG Kar case, Sandeshkhali, and alleged crimes at a law college in Kolkata.

"In the last 15 years of TMC rule, it is women who have suffered the most. Be it RG Kar, Sandeshkhali, or South Calcutta Law College, every incident has exposed the complete failure of Didi's government in ensuring women's safety," he said.

The Union minister took exception to Banerjee's reported remarks advising women not to step out after 7 pm, saying such statements reflected the government's failure.

"Didi says women should not step out after 7 pm. But after May 5, when the BJP forms the government, even if a girl decides to go out at 1 am, nobody will dare raise an eye on her," he said.