WEST BENGAL: In a significant political triumph, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured a resounding victory in all four assembly constituencies where by-elections were held on July 10. The constituencies included Maniktala in Kolkata, Bagdah in North 24 Parganas, Ranaghat Dakshin in Nadia, and Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur.
The by-elections were crucial, especially in the backdrop of the previous election results from 2021, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had captured three out of the four seats, leaving Maniktala in Kolkata under TMC's control. This time, however, the TMC's dominance was clear and decisive.
Maniktala Victory: A Stronghold Secured
Maniktala, a TMC bastion for many years, witnessed a significant win for the party. Supti Pandey, the TMC candidate and wife of former state minister Sadhan Pandey, triumphed with a remarkable margin of 62,312 votes. Supti expressed her sentiments, stating, “I really feel disheartened for the BJP. They lose every time from Maniktala. I am telling this from the core of my heart.”
Supti Pandey's candidature followed the unfortunate demise of her husband, Sadhan Pandey, in February 2022. Sadhan had previously won the Maniktala seat by a margin of 20,238 votes, and Supti's victory further solidified the TMC's stronghold in North Kolkata.
Controversy and Allegations
Kalyan Chaubey, the BJP candidate for Maniktala, raised concerns about the voting process, alleging that only seven to eight percent of the votes were genuine and the rest were manipulated. Despite these claims, the election results stood firm in favor of the TMC.
Sweeping the Matua Belt
In the Matua-dominated regions of Bagdah and Ranaghat Dakshin, the TMC's performance was equally impressive. Madhuparna Thakur, the TMC candidate and daughter of TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, won the Ranaghat Dakshin seat by a substantial margin of 33,455 votes, defeating BJP's Binay Kumar Biswas.
Mamata Bala Thakur attributed their victory to the unwavering support of the people, stating, “It is the blessings of the people of Bagdah. The citizens had decided beforehand that they would send the TMC candidate to the assembly.”
Shift in Political Loyalty
The BJP had previously secured the Bagdah, Raiganj, and Ranaghat South seats in the 2021 elections. However, the winners later switched allegiance to the TMC, further tilting the political balance in favor of the ruling party.
This landslide victory in the by-elections not only reinforces the TMC's dominance in West Bengal but also signals a significant setback for the BJP in the state. The by-polls have showcased the TMC's enduring influence and the electorate's continued trust in their leadership.
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