Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and president of the All India Trinamool Congress, has vehemently dismissed polls favoring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India's 18th Lok Sabha elections as fake. Speaking at the election campaign of Trinamool candidate Abu Taher Khan in Murshidabad, Mamata asserted that the BJP would not even secure 200 seats, contrary to survey results.

Accusing the surveys of being fabricated and alleging that large sums of money were paid for them, Mamata urged the public not to trust them. She emphasized that the people's sentiments indicated that the BJP would not emerge victorious.

The first phase of voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections commenced on Friday morning, with polling underway in three centers – Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. Over 97 crore voters across the country will cast their ballots in 543 Lok Sabha seats over seven phases.

Mamata also criticized the Election Commission of India, questioning the exclusion of state police during polling and expressing concerns about the deployment of only central forces. She raised objections, suggesting that such arrangements could hinder people's ability to vote freely.

Referring to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (India), a coalition led by the Indian National Congress, Mamata cautioned against voting for parties outside the alliance. She asserted that the opposition should rally under the banner of 'India' in the upcoming days, emphasizing the need to prevent the division of anti-BJP votes.

With 2,666 registered political parties participating in the Lok Sabha elections, including national and provincial parties, Mamata underscored the importance of strategic voting to counter the BJP's influence.

West Bengal is among the states conducting voting in seven phases, with Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar hosting polling for the first phase. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are set to vote in seven phases, with eight constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and four in Bihar participating in the first phase on April 19.

Security measures have been intensified nationwide, with the Army, Central Reserve Police Force, and state police ensuring strict vigilance during polling. Extra security arrangements have been implemented, particularly in areas deemed high-risk during the electoral process.