During a press conference in Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win at least 110 of the 152 seats contested in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections held on April 23. He attributed the successful, violence-free elections to the efforts of the Election Commission of India and local authorities. Shah emphasized a significant voter turnout, indicating a shift from fear to trust among the electorate. He hinted that the next chief minister of West Bengal will be a Bengali-speaking leader educated in the Bengali medium, reflecting the party's commitment to local representation. Shah also highlighted the necessity for balanced development across India, particularly in eastern and northeastern regions, and asserted that the BJP's governance would eradicate the criminalization of politics. He concluded with a call for voters in the second phase to continue the momentum of change.