5 June 2024: In a surprising turn of events, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamul Congress (TMC) have defied exit poll predictions to secure a significant victory in the Bengal Lok Sabha elections. The TMC, which had been underestimated by poll pundits, has clinched 29 seats, marking its second-best electoral performance since 2014. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only 12 seats in Bengal, falling short of expectations.
The state of Bengal, which went to the polls in seven phases, has sent a clear message to the nation: “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.” This electoral outcome reflects a rejection of politics driven by hate and polarization.
Professor Mohammad Reyaz of Aliah University expressed that the results were not surprising, as he had earlier predicted TMC’s strong performance. According to him, the weak groundwork of the exit polls failed to capture the ground reality in Bengal.
Ujjwal K Chowdhury, a media communication academic, highlighted that Bengal voted against hate politics and Prime Minister Modi. The state witnessed a consolidation of Muslim votes, with Left-leaning and Congress-leaning Muslim voters rallying behind the party perceived to have the best chance of defeating Modi.
Ujjaini Halim echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the election was a vote against BJP’s polarizing politics. Despite other issues such as state-level corruption, voters prioritized rejecting BJP’s agenda.
Reyaz criticized the bias in exit polls, emphasizing the discrepancy between the predicted close contest and the wide winning margins in Bengal. He credited Mamata’s popularity and the efficient campaigning of TMC cadres for the party’s victory.
Although the Left and the Indian National Congress (INC) failed to make significant gains, there was a marginal increase in the Left’s vote percentage, indicating a positive sign for Bengal’s state politics.
Overall, Mamata’s popularity as a mass leader, coupled with her initiatives for women and girls, contributed to TMC’s victory. However, analysts caution against prematurely comparing Mamata to legendary leaders like CPI-M’s Jyoti Basu, stressing the need for further electoral success.
The election results in Bengal underscore the shifting political landscape in the state and the growing influence of regional parties like TMC. As Mamata’s TMC celebrates its victory, all eyes are now on the future trajectory of Bengal’s political landscape.
