Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien has strongly countered the Bharatiya Janata Party's claims regarding a decrease in voter turnout in the first phase of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. Taking to social media, O'Brien presented hard data to expose what he termed as fake narratives propagated by the BJP.
Data Comparison: 2021 vs 2026
O'Brien highlighted that the total number of votes cast in Phase 1 of the 2026 elections has actually increased compared to the 2021 assembly polls. According to the data shared by him, the total electors in 2021 were 3.67 crores, and the turnout in Phase 1 of 2026 is higher. He accused the BJP of attempting to create a misleading narrative about lower voter participation.
Challenge to Prime Minister Modi
In a subsequent tweet, O'Brien directly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had claimed that the BJP would contest all 294 seats in Bengal. O'Brien stated that after Mamata Banerjee and the TMC win the state on May 4, Modi should accept the challenge and resign as Prime Minister. He urged the PM to cut the big talk and face the reality of the election results.
The TMC leader's remarks come amid intense campaigning for the West Bengal assembly elections, with both parties trading accusations over electoral integrity and voter behavior.
