From Joy to Jai

Anti-incumbency, job aspirations and corruption charges against the Trinamool power the BJP to a historic victory in West Bengal

- BY PREMA RAJARAM

Chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' replaced the familiar 'Joy Bangla' slogans of the Trinamool Congress outside the lane leading to party supremo Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence after the BJP's sweeping victory on May 4. After 15 years as chief minister, Mamata's loss to rival Suvendu Adhikari in her once-safe constituency of Bhabanipur raises serious questions about her political future. Having earlier lost to Adhikari in Nandigram by 1,956 votes in the 2021 assembly polls, Mamata had shifted to Bhabanipur, a Trinamool stronghold since the 2011 delimitation. However, as her lead steadily narrowed on the evening of May 4, she stormed into the Bhabanipur counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls' High School and later walked out alleging irregularities by BJP workers and election officials. By round 15, her margin had reduced to 2,929 votes. By round 16, Mamata trailed Adhikari by 563 votes. She lost the seat by 15,105 votes after 20 rounds of counting.

One major factor behind the high turnout was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Around 60 lakh absent, shifted, dead and deleted (ASDD) voters were removed, reducing the electorate from 7.6 crore to around 6.8 crore. Many migrant labourers and outstation workers returned home to cast their vote, fearing exclusion from future electoral rolls.

The deployment of nearly 2,500 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) during each of the two polling phases boosted voter confidence. Live webcasting and CAPF presence in polling booths were intended to deter violence and ensure free voting.

The Election Commission ordered repolls in certain booths during the second phase after complaints of malpractices were found to be genuine. Repolling in parts of Falta in South 24 Parganas district and sections of Diamond Harbour constituency is scheduled for May 21, but it will not affect the BJP's prospects.