Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain and current cricket administrator, expressed skepticism about predicting the outcome of the West Bengal Assembly elections held on April 29, 2026. He stated that even respected figures like Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi cannot foresee how voters will cast their ballots.
Polling for the 294-member Assembly occurred in two phases, with the first phase on April 23 and the second on April 29. By 11 am on April 29, voter turnout reached 39.97%, covering 142 of the 294 seats.
Key statistics from the election:
- The total number of Assembly seats is 294.
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is predicted to secure around 192 seats, with a margin of plus or minus 11 seats.
- The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is projected to win approximately 100 seats, also with a margin of plus or minus 11 seats.
- Approximately 3.21 crore voters were eligible to participate in this phase.
Ganguly noted that while previous polling had shown high turnout rates—over 90%—the final results would only be clear once votes are counted on May 4, 2026. “How can I answer such a question? Only on Monday, when the ballot box opens, will we all know the answer,” he remarked.
The main contest remains between TMC and BJP, with exit polls indicating a slight edge for BJP. Nevertheless, uncertainties linger as both parties await the official vote count next week.
