Special trains from Gujarat to West Bengal after exit polls spark political buzz

The exit polls predicting a win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal Assembly elections, and the subsequent announcement of four special one-way trains from Gujarat to West Bengal has triggered widespread discussion and speculation.

Railway authorities have announced these trains citing passenger convenience, with services scheduled from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Vatva stations to Howrah and Kolkata. 

Two of these special trains left from Rajkot and Bhuj on Thursday evening, while two more are set to run from Ahmedabad and Vatva on Friday.

The timing of the decision just days before the official election results are declared has raised eyebrows. Many have questioned whether the move is linked to the exit poll projections, with some suggesting that the trains could be aimed at facilitating crowd mobilisation in case of a victory celebration in West Bengal.

At the same time, alternative explanations are also being discussed. There is a possibility that the trains are intended to transport Bengali migrant workers, many of whom had travelled to their home state to cast their votes, back to their workplaces in Gujarat.

The development has revived earlier political controversies, as opposition parties had previously accused the BJP of facilitating the movement of large numbers of Bengali workers from cities like Surat for voting purposes.

With exit polls favouring the BJP, the sudden scheduling of these special trains is now being closely viewed through a political lens, even as official clarification remains limited.