Today’s election in Bengal, which has passed off without any major incident causing death of anyone, in a way symbolises the changing political landscape of Bengal.
Five years ago, these 43 seats of Uttar Dinajpur (9), Purba Bardhaman (8), Nadia (9) and Uttar 24 Parganas (a7) had returned 32 TMC candidates and 11 candidates of the Left-Congress combination. But three years later, the landscape changed entirely. It was now a straight fight between the TMC and the BJP, and while TMC got lead in 24 assembly constituencies during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got the lead in 19. This time BJP is trying it hard to reverse the figures of 2019, and TMC is fighting a do-or-die battle to prevent it.
As the evening approached, a very high voter turnout made the BJP quite happy about this phase, as commonly it is interpreted as an expression of anti-incumbency. By 5.30 PM (one and a half hours before the close), 79 per cent of the voters had given their verdict. It is expected to go beyond 85 per cent at the end. The BJP insiders claimed a popular Hindu upsurge has decimated the ruling party in this phase. However, the TMC sources claim the Muslims also came out en masse to vote, and they all have voted for the TMC. However, ISF counters the claim, as they feel the younger generation of Muslims have voted for the Samjukta Morcha.
What emboldens the BJP is the fact that in nearly half of the constituencies that went to the polls today has a significant presence of Matua population. The Matuas began to shift towards the BJP in 2019, and the process has only been accelerated in the last two years. So, the BJP is confident of at least reversing the tally of 2019. The more optimistic segment of beliefs, feel it would go even further. Significantly, even before the polling ended today, union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that they have crossed the magic figure today. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled his four rallies tomorrow as he will be busy holding meetings on the Covid situation.
If what the BJP insiders feel about today’s election is true, BJP will definitely go ahead in the race for power. But the TMC sources deny any sort of one-sided polling and argue that the people came out to vote against the BJP. If their claim is true, both sides are still tied in a cliffhanger.
Altogether, 306 candidates’ electoral fate will be decided during this sixth phase of polls in Bengal, and among them are BJP’s national vice-president Mukul Roy and his son Subhranshu Roy, Trinamool Congress ministers Jyotipriyo Mallick and Chandrima Bhattacharya, and CPI(M) leader Tanmay Bhattacharya Though no major incident was reported from the state, incidents of hurling bombs or opening fire started from last night, and continued during the day, along with dangerous attacks on opponents and open display of arms.
The BJP and the ISF have accused the TMC of many of these incidents. TMC too accused the BJP of similar incidents. But despite everything, people thronged the booths.
(The author Diptendra Raychaudhuri is a senior journalist based in Kolkata. He has a wide range of experience in covering West Bengal politics and has authored several books)
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