West Bengal Election : Ground Slipping under Mamata’s Feet
West Bengal Election : Lok Sabha 2019 election result came as a complete surprise for the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. When Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for first time in 2014, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress restricted the entry of BJP in her state. BJP could manage only 2 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal. Trinamool Congress on the other hand won 34 Lok Sabha seats.
Two years down the line, in assembly election, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress swept the state. It won 211 of 294 assembly seats , BJP was able to win 3 assembly seats. However, 2019 Lok Sabha gave results that was beyond the expectation of West Bengal’s Chief Minister. BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats and TMC from 34 Lok Sabha seats was reduced to 22 seats. Results was nothing less than shocker for Mamata Banerjee, Didi’s national dream came to end with it.
Read: One Nation One Election: BJP’s Political Jumla
How things changed after Lok Sabha Election Result?
Since the result of Lok Sabha election, things have turned out to be worst for the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Within few days after formation of BJP government at the centre three West Bengal legislators and 52 councillors defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing a major blow to party chief and West Bengal chief minister. Setback for TMC continued when few days later Monirul Islam joined BJP. He became the third TMC legislatior to join BJP. His joining of BJP was hailed by BJP as vindication of slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Viswas”
The biggest jolt to TMC came when it lost South Dinajpur Zila Parishad (District Council) after its South Dinajpur district unit chief Biplab Mitra switched sides to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with 10 other members of the parishad, giving the party a majority in the council, which has 18 seats. Besides Biplab Mitra and 10 members of Zilla Parishad TMC mla Wilson Champramary too joined BJP. Trinamool Congress considered the ones joining BJP to be opportunists, however a state where BJP is gradually increasing its influence, the MLAs deserting TMC and joining them will increase the strength party in state.
How will BJP gain in West Bengal?
BJP now commands the support of about 40.25 per cent of the voters, inching closer to TMC which has a vote share of 43.28 per cent, a lead of just 3.03 per cent. Party which was nowhere in the BJP politics, today has established a lead in 129 out of the 294 Assembly segments. TMC leads in 158 assembly segments as of now. If BJP is able to hold on to its lead, in 2021 assembly election BJP may be in a situation where it may be heading the government in state.
Wave in favor of BJP
In 2019 Lok Sabha election, there was a huge electoral wave in favour of BJP. The result encouraged the party leadership in state to work towards gaining majority in state in future. Moreover, the left front and Congress seems to have totally given up on itself in the state. Once the heavyweight in the state, Left front could not win a single seat in the state. On the other hand Congress could win only two seats. It must be noted that, the decimation of Left and Congress in West Bengal have benefitted BJP largely.
The situation after 23rd May is completely different in the state of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee and TMC is completely giving into the traps laid by BJP. Be it the issue relating to Jai Shree Ram slogan or the handling of issue of junior doctors, Mamata Banerjee has her given the opposition a platform where she is in the receiving end. Eight years of rule and years of fight against Left rule, Mamata Banerjee is gradually giving in to the pressure tactics of BJP.
Outcome
After the Lok Sabha 2014, BJP was considered to be a “Hindi Heartland” party. However, in 2019 BJP was successful in spreading its wings towards every frontier of India. In east West Bengal has been the biggest gain for BJP. After the result of Lok Sabha election, Mamata Banerjee is gradually losing her grip over the state. The way TMC legislators are leaving the party, it clearly suggests the movement of air in the direction of BJP in the West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is gradually losing the state that she commanded over.