India, May 1 -- With just days to go before votes are counted on May 4, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), are staring at a convergence of political, legal and administrative setbacks - intensified by a dramatic night of protests and counter-allegations over EVM security.

The first setback came on Thursday, when multiple exit polls indicated a strong showing by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting it could dislodge the TMC after 15 years in power.

Pollster Matrize projected the BJP at 146-161 seats and the TMC at 125-140, hinting at a tight race but with an edge to the BJP. P-Marq went further, forecasting 150-175 seats for the BJP against 118-138 for the TMC. Poll Diary predi...