In what is being seen as a high-voltage political battle in West Bengal, a survey conducted by ABP News and CVoter has found the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is likely to be crossing the magic-figure of 148 seats and scraping through to form the government.


As per the respondents, the TMC is projected to win 158 seats which is 53 seats less than its earlier tally of 211, which it had handsomely bagged in the 2016 state elections.


The Opinion Poll indicates that the BJP, which had put up a spirited campaign, will see a massive increase in its seat count this time around. As per C-Voter Opinion Poll, from 3 seats in the 2016 state assembly elections, BJP is now pitted to get 102 seats in 2021 Assembly Elections.


As of now results indicate that the BJP despite using all its star power and force will not be able to conquer the frontier which it had aspired for. Even as BJP falls short of the magic figure of 148, according to the opinion poll, this is is still an unprecedented growth for a party with right-leaning ideologies in West Bengal.  


Congress and Left parties contesting together are tipped to win 30 seats, 46 seats less than what it had achieved in the previous polls. Other parties in the fray are predicted to win 4 seats.


The desertion of prominent leaders from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) may have increased BJP inroads into the state but wasn’t just enough to help it cross the finish line. The BJP has been persistent in its efforts to gain seats and votes in the state. In 2011, the party fought 289 of the 294 seats, but ended up with zilch and thereby collecting a vote share of mere 4.06 per cent.


The inability to form the government can pose as a major setback for the saffron party in stamping a big footprint in the East. With Amit Shah’s numerous visits to the state and a stupendous show in the general elections, BJP went for broke hoping it would outdo Mamata and gain seats in the state.


The survey results could come as a huge shock to election strategist Prashant Kishor who had recently claimed on Twitter that the BJP will struggle to cross the double-digit mark in 2021 assembly polls.


Kishor has been appointed by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee to bolster her party's poll prospects and wade off the threats posed by BJP. "Please save this tweet and if BJP does any better I must quit this space!" Kishore had.