Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, for the first time since the Bengal polls started, predicted the outcome, saying the BJP would win 70 seats and the Sanjukta Morcha around 30, in the 294-seat Assembly.

Mamata asserted the BJP would not get past 70 seats despite the alleged help by the Election Commission.

Mamata who met Trinamul workers at the Gitanjali auditorium in Bolpur, and addressed people virtually, said: “It is the BJP’s good fortune that they have got a few persons (of the EC) to help them. With their help, the BJP might get seven, eight, or 10 extra seats. You (the EC officials) may help them get those few seats. But remember, despite all your (the EC’s) efforts, the BJP’s total of seats will not cross 70. It is my challenge. You can’t make it (cross) 70.”

“Remember, the CPM and the Congress, jointly, can get 20-30, or 20-22 seats…they can get less too. But remember, you (the BJP and the commission) have no power to stop Trinamul Congress (from retaining power) in Bengal.”

It means she feels her party would get 191 or so — not factoring in the three hill seats that she left for the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Sources in her party said her confident assertion after six crucial phases (with 223 seats between them) was on the basis of an internal assessment, built on “reliable and realistic” ground reports.

Union home minister Amit Shah and sometimes Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been claiming decisive victories for the BJP to which Mamata has issued rebuttals.

But this was the first time the Trinamul chief issued a statement, not a reaction.

A senior Trinamul vice-president said Mamata “knows we are getting 55-60, at least, in the 71 seats that remain, and that we won 120-135 out of the 223 seats polled”.

The BJP state unit shot back, its chief Dilip Ghosh predicting 160 seats for the party from the 223 that went to polls in the first six phases. “With two phases left, we will comfortably get past 200,” he said.