Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee led her party to one of its biggest political victories in the past three decades by single-handedly stopping the BJP juggernaut in Bengal, paving the way for her return as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.
The West Bengal Assembly polls saw a high-voltage campaign with the BJP putting all its might into the State. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders campaigned vigorously in the State holding several public meetings and road shows.
This was the one of the biggest victories of the Trinamool Congress with over 48 % of all votes polled. In the 2016 Assembly polls, the TMC had won 211 seats and the percentage of votes polled was about 44.9%.
The victory also puts the 66-year-old Trinamool Congress chairperson at the forefront of national politics with all the leaders of Opposition parties congratulating her for the massive win.
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Suvendu Adhikari wins in Nandigram
Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamamta Banerjee by 1,956 votes. He secured 11,0764 votes in his favour wheras the TMC supremo got 10, 8808 votes.
As of 10.40 p.m. as per the Election Commission of India website Mamata Banerjee was leading in Nandigram. She secured 103571 votes in her favour whereas Suvendu Adhikari polled 102751 votes.
TMC scores majority in West Bengal Assembly, still leading in 63 seats
The TMC on Sunday scored a majority in the West Bengal Assembly winning 148 of the 292 seats where polling was held.
At the time of publishing, according to the Election Commission website, the party was also leading in 63 places.
The state has a 294-member assembly but election was countermanded in Shamsherganj and Jangipur constituencies due to the death of candidates.
A party needed 147 seats for a simple majority in the House with effective strength of 292.
Never expected to score a goal on political pitch: Mohun Bagan icon Bidesh Bose
Iconic Mohun Bagan midfielder Bidesh Bose may have won his team many laurels but on Sunday winning the Assembly poll as a Trinamool Congress candidate from Uluberia Purba in his political debut will always remain his the "greatest moment".
In a constituency where Muslims comprise nearly 34% of the electorate, Mr. Bose faced a stiff challenge from Abbasuddin Khan of Indian Secular Front and BJP's Pratyush Mondal but the rookie politician stayed grounded and listened to his head coach (Mamata Banerjee) and assistant coach (Howrah district TMC president Pulak Roy) to score a winner.
"I never thought that I would score a goal on the political pitch. Full credit goes to my head coach (Didi) and assistant coach (Pulak Roy)... I just kept listening to their instructions and worked hard," the iconic leftwinger of the 1970-80s told PTI.
Mr. Bose won the Uluberia Purba seat defeating his nearest BJP rival Pratyush Mandal by 17,126 votes.
Vote share of parties
As of 9.10 p.m. as per the Election Commission of India website , TMC secured 48% of the total votes.
BJP got 38.1% whereas CPI(M) and Congress polled 4.61% and 3.01% votes respectively.
1.07% of the votes went to NOTA.
Swapan Dasgupata trails in Tarakeswar
Former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP candidate Swapan Dasgupta was trailing in Tarakeswar constituency. Ramendu Sinha Roy of Trinamool Congress got 95,384 votes whereas Mr. Dasgupta polled 88,461 votes in his favour.
Suvendu Adhikari thanks Nandigram people
"My sincere thanks to the great People of Nandigram for their love, trust, blessings, and support, and for choosing me as their representative and the MLA from #Nandigram. It is my never-ending commitment to be of service to them and working for their welfare. I am truly grateful!" Suvendu Adhikari tweeted.
Though the Election Commission of India website as of 8:30 p.m. shows the following figures:
1. ADHIKARI SUVENDU Bharatiya Janata Party 82551 0 82551 47.42
2. Mamata Banerjee All India Trinamool Congress 84004 0 84004 48.25
Death of migrant labourers last year forced me to think of joining politics: Manoj Tiwary
Politics was always on Manoj Tiwary's radar but in his mind, there was a sense of finality once he saw the plight of migrant labourers during the COVID-19 induced lockdown last year.
After deciding to take the plunge into politics, he was clear that he had to be on Mamata Banerjee's corner.
Having won his first State assembly elections from Shibpur constituency by a margin of more than 6,000 votes over nearest rival Rathin Chakraborty of BJP, Tiwary knows his immediate assignment.
"Effective COVID-19 management in my area, raising awareness and keeping the residents of my constituency safe. That's my first job and its a challenge. But that's what sport teaches us isn't," Mr. Tiwary, a former India player and one of the finest batsmen to have emerged from Bengal, told PTI after collecting his victory certificate.
PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi congratulate Mamata Banerjee
“Congratulations to Mamata Didi for @AITCofficial's win in West Bengal. The Centre will continue to extend all possible support to the West Bengal Government to fulfil people’s aspirations and also to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. @MamataOfficial,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted .
“I would like to thank my sisters and brothers of West Bengal who have blessed our party. From a negligible presence earlier, BJP’s presence has significantly increased. BJP will keep serving the people. I applaud each and every Karyakarta for their spirited effort in the polls,” the Prime Minister further tweeted.
Rahul Gandhi on twitter: "I’m happy to congratulate Mamata ji and the people of West Bengal for soundly defeating the BJP".
BJP general secretary in charge of West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya congratulates Mamata Banerjee on her victory, says BJP will play the part of a constructive opposition but also appeals to her to restrain her cadre who are “creating a situation of anarchy” upon victory.
People didn't repose faith in those leaders who switched from TMC to BJP: Dilip Ghosh
We humbly accept mandate and will play role of constructive opposition, says BJP's Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh.
"Result is not as per our expectations. We couldn't achieve our target, but still we have improved our position. It seems that people didn't repose faith in those leaders who switched from TMC to BJP," Mr. Ghosh adds.
Samyukt Morcha candidate trailing in Bhangar
Naushad Siddique, brother of Indian Secular Front founder and Furfura Sharif peer Abbas Siddique is trailing in the Bhangar seat. Mr. Naushad secured 27,253 votes where as TMC candidate Karim Rezaul got 30,797 votes. The BJP candidate contesting in this Assembly seat got 18,151 votes.
Subrata Mukherjee leading from Ballygunge
Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development Subrata Mukherjee is leading from Ballygunge. He secured 85.9% of the total votes in his favour. His rivals Fuad Halim of Samyukt Morcha and BJP’s Lokenath Chatterjee secured 4.52% and 6.41% respectively.
WB poll results to impact U.P. Assembly poll and 2024 general election: Yashwant Sinha
Trinamool Congress vice-president Yashwant Sinha on Sunday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah following the outcome of West Bengal Assembly poll.
He also demanded the resignations of BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and its Bengal president Dilip Ghosh.
The result of the Bengal assembly poll will have far reaching impact on Uttar Pradesh State election and the 2024 parliamentary election, he said. - PTI
Counting process for Nandigram has not been completed: TMC
The Trinamool Congress has tweeted from its official handle: The counting process for Nandigram has not been completed. Please do not speculate.
5.31 lakh postal ballots received in West Bengal
Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain says there has been very minimal replacement of EVMs and VVPATs.
"In West Bengal, 5.31 lakh postal ballots were received. Because of excessive loading of servers, there have been difficulties. Counting process has not been affected. We allowed the ROs to declare the results and upload on server later," says Mr. Jain
Mamata Banerjee addresses the media
"This is victory of people of Bengal. Bengal landslide victory has saved the country. EC did not behave well with us. Khela Hobe and Joy Bangla were most important slogans. Covid is my first priority. We will not have grand swearing in because of Covid despite this landslide victory," says Mamata Banerjee
"We will give free vaccine to everybody. If the Centre does not agree will go on a dharna. I did not expect such a victory. Please do.not bring out victory processions in wake of COVID. Salute to my motherland. I am proud to say Bengal saved the country."
"Centre should give free vaccines to all 140 crore people. If the Centre does not give free vaccines then I will start protest. "
"Don't worry for Nandigram. It's ok whatever people of Nandigram gave verdict I accept it."
"We will go to Constituent Bench against Election Commission of India."
"Narendra Modi said Double Engine, I said I will score double century."
"I am fine now( on her injury). This victory will make me recover fast. I respect the verdict of people of Nandigram. It is ok I don't have to go there time and again," adds the Trinamool leader.
Analysis | BJP faces organisational challenges post polls
In West Bengal, it has become clear that the constituency that rose to give BJP 18 seats in the 2019 General Elections has somewhat shifted back to the Trinamool Congress, a consolidation of women and minority votes also seems to have helped Mamata Banerjee. As BJP general secretary in charge of West Bengal Kailash Vijaywargiya said, “it seems Bengal wants Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister.” He also added that the fear of contracting COVID-19 may have kept BJP voters at home.
In the major reasons for its failure to win, BJP leaders point out that the lack of a local face as a chief ministerial candidate hurt them, but more importantly an over dependence on TMC turn coats for both organizational heft and as candidates didn’t go down well with the electorate. Many of the high profile turn coats including former ministers in the Mamata Banerjee government lost polls. - Nistula Hebbar
In pictures: supporters celebrate TMC's lead
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Mamata Banerjee wins Nandigram Assembly seat
The Chief Minister Ms. Banerjee won by a margin of over 1200 votes.
She left her residence and arrived at a TMC party office next to her residence.
Ms. Banerjee addressed supporters outside her residence. "This is Bengal's victory. Only Bengal can ensure such a victory," she said. She is expected to address the media later.
AITC's Arup Roy, S/o Late Prabhat Roy leading in Howrah Madhya constituency. He is the Minister for Agriculture Marketing.
AITC's Nandita Chowdhury leading in Howrah Dakshin constituency.
BJP's Umesh Rai leading in Howrah Uttar constituency.
Kolkatans borrow from Ray to celebrate Mamata’s massive win
People in Kolkata were on Sunday borrowing from the words of revered filmmaker Satyajit Ray — who would have turned 100 on this day — to celebrate the stunning victory of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly elections. By the evening, many of the city’s roads saw bike processions and people gathered on the streets, greeting each other with “Joy Bangla!”
Most exit polls had given her a narrow edge over the Bharatiya Janata Party. Not many had imagined her handing such a powerful blow to her opponents, represented by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. - Bishwanath Ghosh
Mamata is congratulated by leaders
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Mamata Banerjee in a tweet: "Congratulations to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial Didi on her party’s victory in West Bengal assembly elections. My best wishes to her for her next tenure."
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted: "Congratulations to @MamataOfficial Mamata Banerjee on her spectacular victory over the forces of communalism and intolerance. The voters of Bengal (& esp Nandigram) have demonstrated where their hearts lie. The BJP has met its match in Bengal, and lost."
Dipankar Bhattacharya in a tweet said, "Congratulations, @MamataOfficial! Your decision to contest from Nandigram was a bold & courageous move, and the victory in this hard fought battle has been the just reward. West Bengal has given a fitting rebuff to the BJP's aggressive & unscrupulous bid to capture power. Kudos!"
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted: "Congratulations @MamataOfficial didi on @AITCofficial being elected again in the Assembly election. Good wishes for your next tenure."
TMC supporter during celebrations after the initial poll results, in Kolkata, May 2, 2021.
BJP's Jitendra Tewari leading
BJP's Jitendra Tewari contesting in Pandabeshwar constituency is leading. He was former Mayor of Asansol Municipal Corporation. He switched sides from the Trinamool Congress to Bharatiya Janata Party at the eleventh hour. He was keen to join the BJP in December 2020 but chose to stay with the TMC after the intervention of Ms. Banerjee. A section of BJP leaders, including Asansol BJP MP Babul Supriyo, was opposed to Mr. Tewari joining the BJP in December. Mr. Supriyo, however, has changed his stand in March 2021 and welcomed Mr. Tewari into the party.
AITC's Narendranath Chakraborty is trailing.
“Quitting this space”, declares Prashant Kishor
Election strategist Prashant Kishor, who had claimed back in December that the BJP will struggle to cross double digits in the West Bengal assembly polls or else he will quit, on Sunday announced he is “quitting this space”.
He also came down hard on the Election Commission, accusing it of being an “extension of BJP”.
“I am quitting this space,” he told India Today TV channel after trends showed a landslide victory for the TMC, the party whose election strategy he helped craft for the assembly elections.
Close contest in Nandigram
Nandigram Assembly segment in West Bengal witnessing close contest. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading against BJP Suvendu Adhikari by a margin of 820 votes. Last and 17 th round of counting for Nandigram is underway. - Shiv Sahay Singh
EC cracks whip as TMC supporters go on celebration spree, flouting COVID norms
Physical distancing went for a toss as TMC supporters, thumbing their noses at the raging COVID-19 pandemic, hit the streets, beating drums, bursting firecrackers and smearing 'gulal' on one another, prompting the Election Commission to call for action.
The poll panel, which barred celebratory processions and congregations on after counting of votes, asked the state administration to take action against all police stations that failed to stop enthusiasts from taking out rallies.
Trinamool Congress activists celebrate their party's winning trend in the West Bengal assembly election, in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, Sunday, May 2, 2021.
Several TMC activists had no mask on their faces as they lustily cheered and danced to their party's 'khela hobe' (game to happen) theme song, which played on huge sound systems in the city's nooks and corners.
Taking to Twitter, an election official said, "The ECI has taken serious note of reports coming in of congregation(s) of people to celebrate anticipated victory. It has directed CS of all five states (including Bengal) to file FIR in each such case, suspend SHO of the concerned PS and report action taken immediately of each such incidence." A police officer, posted in Kolkata's Alipore area, however, said that the ruling party's supporters did not pay heed, despite several requests and warnings. - PTI
BJP's Ashok Dinda trailing
BJP's Ashok Dinda trailed in Moyna, as as AITC's Sangram Kumar Dolai was leading.
Ashok Dinda, a former India cricketer, who contested the Assembly polls from the Moyna seat in Purba Medinipur district, was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised during the campaign on March 30, 2021. The constituency went to the polls in the second phase on April 1. The Election Commission has sought a report from the district authorities. Mr. Dinda, 36, sustained injuries on his shoulders and back. The TMC leadership denied the allegation.
BJP's Agnimitra Paul leading
BJP's Agnimitra Paul is leading in Asansol Dakshin with 12672 votes whereas AITC's Saayoni Ghosh is following with just 12005 votes.
Agnimitra is a fashion designer and Bengal BJP women's wing chief.
The TMC fielded actor Saayoni Ghosh from Asansol Dakshin, a constituency that the BJP has maintained a lead in in the past few elections. Union Minister Babul Supriyo had won the Asansol seat twice, in 2014 and 2019.
TMC secures 48%, BJP 37% of the votes counted so far
Belying expectations of a tight contest, the TMC candidates appeared galloping to victory, and, if the current trends hold, the party will easily form its third successive government in the state.
TMC supporters were seen celebrating with green 'gulal' at different places, including in front of Ms. Banerjee's residence at Kalighat.
Of the votes counted so far, the TMC has secured 48.51 %, while the BJP got 37.49 %, as per the Election Commission.
The Left-Congress-ISF alliance is leading in only two seats. - PTI
AITC's Sujata Mondal Khan leading
Sujata Mondal Khan of Trinamool is leading in Arambagh constituency. She is BJP MP Saumitra Khan's wife, joined Trinamool in December (two days after Suvendu Adhikari left TMC). Saumitra Khan had sent a divorce notice to his wife for this.
Madhusudan Bag of BJP is in the second place.
The Election Commission issued a notice to Ms. Sujata Mondal Khan on April 16, 2021 for making a “disparaging” comment on Scheduled Castes, which the EC found to be in violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) in force for the West Bengal poll.
The EC said it received a complaint from a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi about Ms. Khan’s remarks in an interview to a television channel. The EC notice said she called the SC community “beggars by nature”.
A mixed bag for Parliamentarians in Assembly elections
In West Bengal, along with Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who is contesting from Tollygunj, the BJP fielded two more Lok Sabha MPs — Locket Chatterjee from Chunchura and Nisith Pramanik from Dinhata. All three MPs are losing by a margin of over 5,000 votes each.
Mr. Supriyo, meanwhile, is trailing by more than 16,000 votes. Nominated MP of Rajya Sabha Swapan Dasgupta, who decided to contest on a BJP ticket from the Tarkeshwar Assembly constituency, was forced to resign after rival Trinamool Congress threatened to take legal recourse. He is now trailing behind the TMC candidate by nearly 6,000 votes. - Sobhana K. Nair
Watch video from outside Mamata's residence
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) was ahead in 202 of the 292 seats that went to polls in West Bengal, way over the halfway mark of 147, leaving the BJP trailing far behind in 77 seats.
Mamata congratulated by leaders
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Congratulations @MamataOfficial didi for landslide victory. What a fight! Congratulations to the people of WB."
BSP MP Danish Ali tweeted, "Congratulations @MamataOfficial @AITCofficial and mature electorate of West Bengal for not allowing Hate Mongers and Liars to capture WB."
NCP president Sharad Pawar tweeted: "Congratulations @MamataOfficial on your stupendous victory! Let us continue our work towards the welfare of people and tackling the Pandemic collectively." - Sobhana K. Nair
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday congratulated Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which, according to EC website at 2 pm, is leading in more than 200 seats in Bengal, and said "politics of hate stands defeated" in the state. Taking to Twitter, he said the "conscious public" have given a befitting reply to BJP's 'Didi o Didi' barbs. - PTI
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut expressed confidence that Mamata Banerjee will form the next government in West Bengal. "We have to compliment Mamata didi that she accepted the BJP's challenge and contested only from one seat. It is not easy to defeat Mamata, even though the BJP worked hard and put in a lot of investment to defeat her," the Rajya Sabha member said. - PTI
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: "Congratulations to @MamataOfficial @AITCofficial @derekobrienmp on their splendid victory today. Kudos to the people of West Bengal for rejecting disruptive & divisive forces".
A momentous day for India & Bengal: Derek O’Brien
"An emotional day after fighting the world’s most destructive force, MO-SHA’s BJP. Filthy campaign aided by agencies and shameless EC. A momentous day for India & Bengal. It is understandable that we are euphoric but we also know that during #Covid we have to celebrate responsibly," TMC leader, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien tweeted. - Sobhana K. Nair
Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee who is contesting from Behala Paschim constituency is leading; opponent is cine star Srabanti Chatterjee of BJP who is in the second place.
People of Bengal gave befitting reply to repeated attacks on Mamata: Partha on poll trends
Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said trends available for 284 seats indicate that the people of West Bengal have given a befitting reply to the repeated "attacks" on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Mocking the BJP, Mr. Chatterjee also said he wants to see the faces of those who had raised the slogan 'Is bar 200 par' (This time, over 200 seats for the saffron party).
"People are with Mamata Banerjee and have replied to the derogatory comments and attacks on her and the populace of Bengal," he told reporters here. We have always talked about unity and development... and the way the CM had worked for the welfare of people by risking her life amid the pandemic, has reflected in the election results," Mr. Chatterjee added. - PTI
"Looks like people of West Bengal want Mamata Banerjee as CM"
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya left BJP party headquarters in Kolkata as the trends showed the BJP may end up sitting in the opposition.
He almost conceded defeat. "Looks like people of West Bengal want Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister," he told reporters while leaving. Ms. Banerjee's emotional connect with people has worked, he added.
Mr. Vijayvargiya expressed surprise that MPs such as Babul Supriyo and Locket Chatterjee were trailing. - Shiv Sahay Singh
DEO Kalimpong overseeing the Postal Ballot counting for 22 Kalimpong Assembly Constituency of Darjeeling District.
AITC's Debasish Kumar leading
AITC's Debasish Kumar leading in Rashbehari constituency and BJP's Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Subrata Saha is in the second place. Debashis Kumar is a former councillor. Rashbihari seat was previously held by State power minister and Trinamool Congress veteran Sovandeb Chatterjee
BJP's Suvendu Adhikari leading
Turncoats who defected from Trinamool Congress to Bharatiya Janata Party are trailing in many seats. Suvendu Adhikari is the sole exception.
Domjur candidate Rajib Banerjee is trailing behind Trinamool's Kalyan Ghosh by over 4000 votes. Bally candidate Baishali Dalmiya is trailing behind Rana Chatterjee by 7000 votes. Uttarpara candidate Prabir Kumar Ghosal is trailing behind Kanchan Mullick by over 1300 votes.
AITC's Manoranjan Byapari leading
Noted Dalit writer and Trinamool Congress candidate Manoranjan Byapari is leading in Balagarh. He is also the chairman of State-run Dalit Sahitya Academy. Byapari, who contested as a TMC candidate from Balagarh in Hooghly leading against BJP candidate Subhas Chandra Haldar by a margin of over 4000 votes.
Manoranjan Byapari learnt to read in prison when he was 24 years old. A refugee from East Bengal, he had never been to school. When he was released from prison, he returned to his cycle rickshaw, but the dagger he kept hidden under the seat was now replaced by a book, which led him to Mahasweta Devi and his own journey as a writer. His autobiography, Itibritte Chandal Jibon (‘Interrogating my Chandal Life’), is a story of survival amid despair, where he says: “I have lived my life as the ill-fated Dalit son of an ill-fated Dalit father, condemned to a life of bitterness.” Mr. Byapari has written about 20-odd books, giving voice to the desperate, because “there are certain things I have to tell the people, and it is only I who can tell them of these things”. The urgent need to tell people “certain things” has again prompted him to jump into the election fray on a Trinamool Congress ticket. Mr. Byapari is contesting from Balagarh in Hooghly district.
Here is his interview with The Hindu’s Sudipta Datta and Shiv Sahay Singh
Trends indicates a win for TMC
The initial trends of counting for the West Bengal Assembly indicate that the Trinamool Congress is likely to edge past the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and form the government for a third consecutive term. If there are no major changes in the trends, Mamata Banerjee will be Chief Minister again.
In terms of vote share, the Trinamool Congress appeared to be far ahead securing almost 48.5 % votes and the BJP a distant second with 37.4 % votes.
Not only does the Trinamool Congress appears to be holding on to its bastions in south Bengal but appears to have done well in areas where the BJP had prospered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls like Jhargram, Hooghly and Paschim Bardhaman. - Shiv Sahay Singh
Party supporters in Harish Chatterjee Street, Kalighat happy with the early trends.
Debabrata Majumdar of AITC leads in Jadavpur, followed by Dr. Sujan Chakraborty of CPI (M).
Ashutosh Mahato of AJSU Party is marginally leading in Baghmundi. The sitting Congress MLA Nepal Chandra Mahato is trailing by over 350 votes.
The All Jharkhand Students Union Party is contesting with BJP's support in this Purulia district.
TMC consolidates lead in Bengal, trends hint at huge victory
The ruling TMC looks set to retain power in West Bengal with its candidates leading in 187 of the state's 292 seats that went to poll against BJP's 85, as trends were available for 275 seats.
Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was, however, trailing her former protege-turned-BJP rival Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram by over 8,000 votes.
Belying expectations of a tight contest, the TMC candidates appeared galloping to victory, and, if the current trends hold, the party will easily form its third successive government in the state. - PTI
Celebrations outside Mamata Banerjee residence at Kalighat.
Arup Biswas leading
Arup Biswas, TMC candidate and Minister leading in Tollygunj in Kolkata over BJP' s MP Babul Supriyo by a margin of 11968 votes. He is a sitting MLA and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister.
- Shiv Sahay Singh
BJP's Baren Chandra Barman leading
Baren Chandra Barman of BJP is leading in Sitalkuchi. A reserved constituency, Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district witnessed the death of five people on the polling day on April 10.
Members of the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had fired more than 15 rounds in “self defence” at two polling booths in a span of two hours.
Mamata Banerjee and BJP State chief Dilip Ghosh engaged in a war of words over the Sitalkuchi firing. While the former accused the BJP misusing its power, the latter warned of more “Siltakuchi like incidents” if the “bad boys of Trinamool Congress” do not abide by the law.
Singhvi praises Mamata
Irrespective of Nandigram result & she is trailing there; Mamata showed her tigress fighting instincts by eschewing multiple safe seats available & took the fight right to the heart of the enemy’s den. Win or lose, she has won hearts & minds with her guts: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal said in a tweet.
CPI(M)'s Asok Bhattacharya trailing
Veteran CPI(M) leader and former Minister Asok Bhattacharya in trailing in a distant third position from Siliguri Assembly segment. Asok Bhattacharya was the Mayor of Siliguri Muncipal Corporation. The veteran CPI(M) leader is a key face of the party in north Bengal.
The TMC and Left have fought bitterly in Siliguri before, but now it is the BJP that is leading in this segment.
BJP's Babul Supriyo trailing
BJP candidate Babul Supriyo is trailing in Tolyganj. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Arup Biswas is leading here. Babul Supriyo is Asansol MP and a Union Minister for State.
Tollyganj is considered the hub of the Bengali film industry. Actor Debdut Ghosh has debuted in electioneering as CPI(M) candidate here. While Mr. Supriyo is a well-known singer, Arup Biswas' brother Swarup has served as president of Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India.
Only a few media persons outside BJP's party office.
Abhishek Banerjee and other TMC leaders start arriving at Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence. - Shiv Sahay Singh
Early trends not real indicator of Bengal poll outcome: Vijayvargiya
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday exuded confidence that his party will form the next government in West Bengal.
He said that the initial trends from postal ballots were "not the real indicator of the final outcome".
"We will cross the magic figure by evening. I am sure that we will form the next government in Bengal," Mr. Vijayvargiya, who is also the BJP's Bengal minder, said.
The saffron party, which had managed to secure just three seats in the last assembly elections, is making good progress, he stated. - PTI
Kajal Sinha, who died of COVID-19, leads
TMC candidate, Kajal Sinha who died of COVID infection just three days after polling in his seat Khardaha is leading by 2411 votes as per Election Commission.
His wife has filed a case of culpable homicide against against Sudip Jain, Deputy Election Commissioner In-Charge of West Bengal, accusing the Election Commission of India (EC) of “deliberate and intentional omission” leading to her husband’s death.
She also accused the EC of “intentionally” not taking any steps to ensure COVID-19 protocols were followed at public rallies.
Other than Sinha, three other candidates died during the prolonged election campaign in the State. Two candidates were from the Jangipur constituency — the Revolutionary Socialist Party’s Pradip Nandi and Congress’ Rezaul Haque. Samir Ghosh, independent candidate from Baisnabnagar Assembly constituency, also succumbed to COVID-19.
Manoj Tiwary
Cricketer Manoj Tiwary (catching the ball) has joined the Trinamool Congress. File
Cricketer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwary is leading in Shibpur. He is contesting from Trinamool Congress ticket. He has been pitted against Rathindranath Chakraborty, the former Mayor of Howrah. Mr. Chakraborty switched to BJP recently.
Trinamool Congress increases its vote share
Trinamool Congress has some reasons to cheer though. Initial trends of counting suggest that the party's vote share has crossed 50%. The party seems to be doing well in districts such as Malda and Murshidabad where it did not have much presence in 2016 Assembly polls.
Even in Jhargram and Hooghly district Trinamool Congress seems to be ahead in the first few rounds of counting. - Shiv Sahay Singh
Mamata trails in Nandigram
As per the latest update, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is trailing behind BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by over 1,000 votes at the end of first round of counting.
Nandigram was one of the main reasons Trinamool Congress dethroned three decades of Left rule in West Bengal. Fourteen villagers were killed in the police firing and subsequent violence in Nandigram. The violent movement against land acquisition catapulted Mamata Banerjee to power in the State in 2011.
The constituency has been the centre of high voltage politics with the BJP fielding former TMC minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had represented the constituency for the past five years. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned here.
Bodoland and Bengal
Kamalshing Narzary of Bodoland Peoples Front is marginally leading in Bijni. An ally of BJP once, the party switched to Congress-Left alliance in February.
The BJP and the BPF parted ways before the elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which the party chief Hagrama Mohilary Mohilary headed for 17 years, in December 2020. The BPF was also part of Assam government led by BJP.
Interestingly, the BPF was part of UPA until 2016.
BJP: From 2 seats to contender
Initial trends for West Bengal is out. The ruling Trinamool Congress is leading in two seats, while the BJP is leading in one seat.
The BJP aspires to form government in the key eastern State. The Prime Minister, Home Minister and a number of Union Ministers, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled States have campaigned in this State. In 2016, the party had won just two seats. But over the course of five years, it has 34 MLAs, thanks to byelections. Several MLAs switched sides, including Suvendu Adhikari a prominent Trinamool Congress leader.
The rise of BJP also coincided with the fading of Left and Congress in the region. From being the ruler of Bengal for over three decades, the Left Front failed to win a single seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress party, which was the principal opposition party in 2016, lost its place to the BJP.
The historical towns of Murshidabad, Malda may hold key to power in Bengal
If there is one historical character whose name was dropped again and again in the political discourse during the 2021 Assembly polls in West Bengal, it was Mir Jafar, the military general of Nawab Siraj-U-Daullah who sided with the British. At almost every political rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the leaders of her own party who had defected to the BJP “Mir Jafars” and ‘traitors’.
Murshidabad has always stood against the tide. In the 2016 Assembly polls when the Trinamool swept the State, 14 of the 22 seats went to the Congress.
Murshidabad shares boundary with Bangladesh and has a minority population of 66%. The anti-CAA protests could also have its bearing on the results.
In the case of adjoining Malda district, it was once a Congress bastion. But in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had a lead in six Assembly seats, the Congress in four and the TMC in two seats. The issues that dominate Murshidabad are also the same in Malda with similar geography and a 51.27 % minority population.
Among the states that went to polls recently, West Bengal has the maximum counting hallls — 1113, according to the Election Commission of India.
There are two factors for this. Firstly, Bengal has the highest number of seats among the States that went to polls along with it.
Secondly, Bengal is witnessing unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases during this election season. Polling campaigns are believed to be the main reason for this surge. The Election Commission restricted the number of people attending poll rallies to just 500, during the last phases of elections.
Security arrangements
The ECI has made arrangements for a three-tier security at each of 108 counting centres. The premises will be guarded by personnel of the West Bengal police and central armed police forces. Every counting agent has to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate before entering the counting centres. About 30% of counting staff have been kept as reserve. ECI officials said that considering the COVID outbreak, this year there are more EVMs and counting centres and the announcement of results may be delayed.
Counting Agents wearing PPE Kit before entering the Counting halls at Raiganj Polytechnic College, Uttar Dinajpur District in West Bengal on May 2, 2021
All eyes on Nandigram
Of the state's 294 assembly constituencies, the most keenly watched will be Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district where Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is contesting her protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP.
Ms. Banerjee, who is seeking a third term in office, has left Bhabanipur constituency in Kolkata to fight from Nandigram, the epicentre of an anti-land acquisition movement that catapulted her party to power in 2011 ending the 34- year-long Left Front rule.
However, 10 years later, a number of leaders have left the party and joined the BJP ahead of the election which was blotched by violence, vicious personal attacks and jingoistic fulminations.
Counting of votes begins in West Bengal
Counting of votes polled in the West Bengal assembly elections began at 8 am under tight security.
The exercise is underway in 108 counting centres spread across the 23 districts of the state, where a three- tier security arrangement has been put in place.
At least 292 observers have been appointed and 256 companies of central forces deployed at the counting centres.
Analysis
While the Trinamool Congress is known for bringing celebrities into its fold, the BJP has followed suit, fielding television stars and other popular figures this time.
Will it cut ice or is it just another ploy by political parties that is bound to fall flat on its face?
Ground Zero
As the BJP makes inroads into West Bengal, the incumbent Trinamool Congress government is pushing back, even as an experiment in Muslim politics is under way. Shiv Sahay Singh and Sudipta Datta report on the many strands of a polarised Bengal campaign.
Polling
84.63% of 73.80 lakh voters in 30 constituencies exercised their franchise during the firstphase of polling on March 27 .
30 seats went to polls in second phase of Bengal elections where turnout crossed 80% .
77.68% voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of the West Bengal assembly elections where more than 78.5 lakh voters exercised their franchise and decided the fate of 205 candidates.
Polling for 44 seats in the fourth phase of the West Bengal where over 1.15 crore voters exercised their franchise to decided the fate of 373 candidates recorded 76.16% turnout
Over one crore voters in West Bengal decided the political fate of 342 candidates, when 45 assembly constituencies went to polls in the fifth phase. It recorded 78.36% voter turnout.
In the sixth phase of polling in West Bengal for 43 Assembly seats across four districts, with about 79.09% voters exercising their franchise .
Over 86 lakh voters in West Bengal decided the political fate of 284 candidates, when 34 Assembly constituencies, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's home turf Bhabanipur, were polling in the seventh phase where around 75.06% voter turnout recorded .
Polling for 35 seats in the eighth phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal recorded 76.07% voter turnout
Published - May 02, 2021 06:42 am IST
