नवीनतम
WB Elections: Crucial vote on 142 seats tomorrow
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Campaigning for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Monday evening. Polling will take place across 142 seats on Wednesday. The results of this phase are important for determining the overall power balance in the state.
During the campaign for the second phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the high voter turnout in the first phase showed a “wave of change” in Bengal. The BJP aims to break into the TMC’s stronghold in South Bengal and surpass its previous total of 77 seats from the 2021 polls. In 2021, the BJP became the main opposition party in the state, thanks to strong support from North Bengal, which voted in the first phase on April 23.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that support for the BJP is increasing in West Bengal, saying that people view the party as the main alternative to the ruling TMC. Rijiju alleged that the TMC government has harmed the state and that voters see the BJP as capable of restoring good governance and development.
Despite the BJP's efforts five years ago, Mamata Banerjee’s party successfully dominated South Bengal and easily kept control of the state. This result confirmed a common belief that without winning South Bengal, there is no path to power at Nabanna.
The focus of this phase is Bhabanipur—Mamata Banerjee’s political stronghold and a key battleground for the BJP. She is facing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in what many are calling a crucial electoral contest. For the BJP, this phase is more than just the last round; it’s a test to see if issues like anti-incumbency and corruption can challenge the ruling party. For the TMC, keeping this area means a better chance for a fourth consecutive term.
A senior TMC leader said, “This area has always been our strongest zone. If we keep it, Bengal remains with Mamata Banerjee.” A BJP leader countered, “Without winning South Bengal, we cannot gain power. North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, and Howrah are where the real battles will be.”
The urgency is clear. North 24 Parganas has 33 seats, South 24 Parganas has 31, Howrah has 16, Nadia has 17, Hooghly has 18, and Purba Bardhaman 16. Kolkata, with its 11 prestigious seats, plays a significant role. Politicians often refer to North and South 24 Parganas as the “Uttar Pradesh of Bengal’s electoral map” because of their influence.
In 2021, the TMC won every seat in Kolkata, all of Howrah's seats, 30 out of 31 in South 24 Parganas, and 28 out of 33 in North 24 Parganas. The BJP's main gains were in North 24 Parganas and Nadia, supported mostly by Matua and refugee voters, the citizenship debate, and a desire for change from the ruling party. This explains why top BJP leaders spent their final campaign efforts in these districts.
BJP leaders held rallies and roadshows, mixing critiques of corruption, illegal immigration, violence, and women’s safety with outreach to local communities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Central Armed Police Forces would stay in Bengal for 60 days after the polls, which many interpreted as a message to reassure voters against post-poll violence, a concern after allegations of violent incidents in 2021.
The TMC dismissed these claims as fear tactics, accusing the BJP of trying to control Bengal from Delhi and using central agencies against them. The TMC has focused on welfare and identity during the campaign, framing the election as a fight for “Bengal’s rights” and warning that the BJP's ultimate goal includes social division.
After the first phase recorded a high voter turnout of 93.19 percent—the highest ever in the state—Banerjee claimed that the TMC had already crossed the 100-seat mark. However, the most intense battles are happening now.
