Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Friday claimed that his party was coming to power in the state with a thumping majority of nearly 200 seats.
However, a section of his party colleagues, though sure of winning the polls, didn’t appear to share his confidence about the figures.
“Exit poll isn’t right, exact poll is and we believe in that. The real thing will be revealed on May 2, it will be as we wanted. There will be a comfort majority and we will win nearly 200 seats,” Ghosh said around 48 hours before the counting for Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats starts on May 2.
Ghosh’s comments come in the backdrop of exit polls released on Thursday.
At least six out of the 10 exit polls gave the Trinamul Congress an edge over the BJP.
While Ghosh’s estimate of 200 seats falls in line with Union home minister Amit Shah’s claims, sources in the party said the top-rung of leaders had assessed a win in 160 to 165 seats.
The Midnapore MP’s claims of a thunderous victory is intended to prop up the morale of the workers at the grassroots who might feel dejected after the exit polls, sources in the BJP said.
“We are confident of winning 160 to 165 seats. But the exit polls shouldn’t demoralise BJP workers before the counting itself. Hence, Dilipda is repeatedly claiming we will win 200 seats,” a state BJP secretary said.
According to sources, other than Ghosh, several other leaders are also worried about the impact the exit polls might have on counting agents and BJP workers at the grassroots.
In a video conference with state leaders, which was held right after the exit polls were announced on Thursday evening, the national BJP leadership asked them to keep the morale of the counting agents high.
Three senior state BJP leaders said Shivprakash, BJP’s national joint general secretary (organisation), and Amitava Chakraborty, the state general secretary (organisation), while addressing the conference, said the exit polls not going in their favour might prove discouraging to the counting agents.
“Counting agents are the party’s eyes and ears at the counting venues. They shouldn’t feel disheartened by the exit polls. It is imperative that these agents turn up at the venues on May 2. Both Shivprakashji and Amitavada asked leaders like us to boost the morale of the counting agents,” a state office-bearer said.
This leader added that they would speak to local workers and those who had been designated as counting agents and ask them not to panic over the exit polls.
Another BJP leader said it appeared that the two leaders were trying to analyse the impact of the exit polls on the participants in the conference.
“We have been taught to believe that ‘Iss baar 200 paar (this time over 200)’. But apart from one exit poll, none placed us even close to that figure, which might’ve affected the perception of many of our colleagues,” the leader added.
BJP MP and national general secretary Bhupender Yadav was also present at the meeting.
