In a press conference in Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the 92.98% voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections as a strong indicator of support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shah stated that this turnout reflects the people's desire for political change after over a decade of Trinamool Congress rule under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He confidently projected that the BJP would secure more than 110 seats out of the 152 contested in this phase, enabling the party to form a government with a decisive majority after the second phase of polling. Shah emphasized that a BJP government would prioritize women's safety and ensure a corruption-free administration, addressing allegations of corruption involving over ₹10,000 crore against the current government. He also discussed the need to eliminate extortion practices affecting local businesses. Shah's remarks came amid a backdrop of ongoing campaign activities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent boat ride on the River Ganga, which Banerjee criticized by referencing the condition of the River Yamuna in Delhi.