Kolkata, May 4 (PTI) Exuding confidence about forming the next government in West Bengal, BJP leaders on Monday said people of the state have voted for change and in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP was leading in 171 seats against the TMC's 83 as counting progressed for 293 assembly segments, signalling a political shift in the state.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the BJP will form the next government in the state.
Adhikari is seeking a re-election from Nandigram and taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
"BJP will form the government. People have given the BJP a clear mandate," Adhikari told reporters.
Maintaining that Muslim voters have not gone en masse with the TMC in this election, he claimed that Hindu votes, on the other hand, have consolidated in favour of the BJP.
"Hindus could not be divided in the name of language, religion and caste," he said.
Adhikari said it will be a victory of PM Modi, who led the BJP's campaign in the state.
"All Hindus have united in favour of PM Modi," he said.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said he was confident of a landslide victory for the party.
"People of the state have already rejected the Trinamool Congress government, and in a few hours, the overwhelming majority of the seats will confirm that in the fight between Mamata Banerjee and the people, people have rejected Mamata Banerjee," Bhattacharya said outside a counting centre in Kolkata.
BJP's Kharagpur Sadar candidate, Dilip Ghosh, claimed that people have voted for change.
"The counting will be conducted in the same manner as the polling. People have voted to bring a new government," he told PTI Videos.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh said the election will blaze the trail for change.
"We firmly believe, with full confidence and trust, that this change will happen and the BJP will win the elections," he said.
BJP's Gaighata candidate Subrata Thakur said his party will get more than 180 seats.
"With Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding us from Delhi, we will form a double-engine government. In past elections, there were strong-arm tactics. This year the EC ensured free and fair polls. People have voted for 'poriborton'," he said.
BJP leader Sishir Bajoria said his party will make a clean sweep in the elections.
"Have you heard anything from Didi's (CM Mamata Banerjee) side? They have fallen silent," he said.
BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista told PTI Videos said the verdict showed those who supported infiltrators, corruption, and could not stop violence against women have been rejected by people.
"This victory also paid tribute to the 100 of BJP workers who sacrificed their lives under TMC terror," he said. PTI SUS AMR SOM
