Massive blow to Mamata as BJP makes in-roads in West Bengal
Up from its previous tally of just two seats, the BJP’s current tally with a vote share of 38.9%BJP is leading in some of the key constituencies such as Asansol where BJP MP Babul Supriyo is contesting against TMC’s Moon Moon Sen
Kolkata: As the final tally for West Bengal inches forward, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dealt a massive blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, raking up a seat share of 15 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Up from its previous tally of just two seats, the BJP’s current tally with a vote share of 38.9% as against the TMC’s vote share of 45.1% and 25 seats, has proved to be a massive victory for the saffron party. BJP is leading in some of the key constituencies in the state such as Asansol where BJP Member of Parliament Babul Supriyo is contesting against TMC’s Moon Moon Sen, according to the Election Commission of India.
In the other key fights in Dum Dum and Diamond Harbour, which are traditional TMC bastions, Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee is leading in the Diamond Harbour constituency with 71,298 votes.
While TMC leaders refused to comment on the matter, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh told Mint, “The results are there for you to see – people want BJP in the state and are fed up of Mamata. We have proved successful in our endeavour and it is clear the the people of West Bengal want Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs."
While the Congress party has made no dent with its seat tally of one, the Left stands decimated in the state, having got zero seats.
Giving Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) a tough fight, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the first time made huge inroads into West Bengal. According to data from the Election Commission, Narendra Modi-led BJP was ahead in 16 of 42 constituencies, making smart gains in the eastern state. At 16 seats, BJP has significantly bettered its performance from the two it holds currently.
Of the 42 seats, TMC was leading ahead in 25 seats. Congress lost three seats in the state, securing just one.
Campaigning and polls in West Bengal were particularly bitter, with frequent violent clashes between workers of BJP and TMC.
BJP and TMC blamed each other for a vandalized statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar that saw the EC crack whip and ordering an early wrap up of campaigning in the state by an entire day by 16 May.
Bengal voted in four phases stretched across six weeks.
The rise of BJP in West Bengal is significant as the state has been ruled by the Left for over three decades, which was replaced by TMC in 2011.
The Trinamool Congress, which was the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha following the 2014 General elections, has governed the state since the party put an end to 35 years of CPM rule there in the assembly elections of 2011.
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