TMC Wins All 6 Seats in West Bengal Bypolls, BJP Fails to Secure Any

KalimNews with inputs from Agencies, November 23, 2024, Madarihat : In a spectacular display of political dominance, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has secured a decisive victory in the West Bengal by-elections, clinching all six contested seats. The outcome underscores the party's unwavering grip on the state's political landscape, delivering a severe blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which failed to win even a single seat in these high-stakes bypolls.

The TMC's triumph is particularly notable for the commanding margins of victory. Two of the party's candidates, Sangita Roy and SK Rabiul Islam, won by a staggering margin of over one lakh votes in Sitai (SC) and Haroa constituencies, respectively, leaving their rivals far behind and causing all contesting opponents to forfeit their election deposits.

The results highlight a stark contrast between West Bengal's two major political forces. While TMC celebrated a clean sweep, securing victories across all constituencies, the BJP found itself trailing in a distant second place. The BJP, which had hoped to challenge TMC’s dominance following its strong showings in the 2019 and 2021 elections, was unable to make any significant inroads, highlighting the enduring strength of Mamata Banerjee's leadership in the state.

Historic Win in Madarihat

The bypolls also marked a historic breakthrough for the TMC in Madarihat, a seat that had remained out of the party’s grasp since 2011. Jayprakash Toppo secured a resounding victory in Madarihat, polling 79,186 votes, defeating his nearest rival by an impressive margin of 28,168 votes. This victory is all the more significant as Madarihat had previously been a stronghold of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) before shifting towards the BJP in recent years. TMC’s triumph in this constituency signals a shift in the region’s political allegiances.

Record-Breaking Margins

In Sitai (SC), Sangita Roy emerged victorious with an eye-popping margin of 1,30,636 votes, securing 1,65,984 votes in total. Her nearest rival from the BJP managed just 35,348 votes, while the Congress candidate finished a distant third with 9,177 votes. The landslide victory resulted in the forfeiture of deposits by six of Roy’s rivals, a testament to the overwhelming support she received.

Similarly, in Haroa, SK Rabiul Islam defeated Piyarul Islam of the All India Secular Front by a margin of 1,31,388 votes. Islam polled just 25,684 votes, while the BJP's Bimal Das and Congress candidate Habib Reza Chowdhury struggled with 13,570 and 3,765 votes, respectively, failing to make any substantial impact.

Other Constituencies

The TMC’s dominance continued in Naihati, where Sanat Dey triumphed over his rival Rupak Mitra by a margin of 49,277 votes, securing 78,772 votes in total. 

In Taldangra, Falguni Singhababu won with a margin of 34,082 votes, garnering 98,926 votes against Ananya Roy Chakraborty of the BJP, who polled 64,844 votes after 12 rounds of counting.

In Medinipur, Sujoy Hazra clinched the seat with a total of 1,15,104 votes, beating BJP’s Subhajit Roy (Bunty) by 33,996 votes. The Congress candidate, Shyamal Kumar Ghosh, trailed far behind with only 3,946 votes.

Political Implications

The results of these bypolls reinforce the TMC's stronghold over West Bengal and deal a severe setback to the BJP, which had hoped to challenge Mamata Banerjee’s supremacy in the state. Despite years of campaigning and efforts to expand its influence, the BJP has so far struggled to make meaningful inroads into TMC's traditional voter base. With no seats secured in these crucial by-elections, the party faces a significant political challenge moving forward.

For the TMC, the victory is a powerful affirmation of its continued popularity and the effective leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The party's ability to mobilize voters, maintain its strong base, and win by large margins in a highly contested environment suggests that it remains the dominant force in West Bengal politics.

As the political dynamics of West Bengal evolve, the BJP will need to reassess its strategies if it hopes to regain any ground in the state. For now, the TMC's sweep of all six bypolls is a clear indication that Mamata Banerjee's party remains firmly in control.