West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared the high phase-one voter turnout a decisive mandate against the BJP, predicting the saffron party would lose significantly. She accused the BJP of atrocities and warned of “democratic revenge” for their actions, urging focus on Manipur’s unrest and criticizing their treatment of allies like Nitish Kumar.
Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’ continues its impressive box office run, nearing Rs 1,170 crore worldwide and Rs 1,125 crore in India. Despite facing competition from new releases like Hollywood’s ‘Michael’ and Bollywood’s ‘Bhoot Bangla’, the spy drama added Rs 1.60 crore on its 37th day, showcasing its sustained popularity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the record turnout in Bengal’s first phase of polls signals the end of Trinamool’s “maha jungle raj,” equating people’s participation to an endorsement of BJP’s “bharosa” (trust) over “bhay” (fear).
