As 1st phase of West Bengal assembly elections began on March 27, Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Derek O'Brien expressed confidence in TMC’s performance. He said, “TMC will win Bengal. Bengal's daughter will defeat Bengal's traitor in his own backyard at Nandigram, members of the tourist gang will continue to do what they do best - try and destroy institutions in India. Women in Bengal will continue to wear sarees any way they want.”