West Bengal next: BJP after Tripura success

After Tripura, the buoyant BJP targets Didi’s citadel 

NEW DELHI | Updated: 02 March, 2023 10:33 pm IST
Key BJP leaders Manik Saha and Pratima Bhoumik sought blessings from their mothers after winning their respective constituencies

After dominating Tripura by winning the state for the second successive time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set its eyes on the bigger challenge.

A confident BJP picked up its bitter rival Trinamool Congress (TMC) as it highlighted Mamata Banerjee’s party’s poor performance in the assembly election of Tripura – where TMC was supposed to put up a strong fight.

Drawing attention to TMC’s vote share, which is less than one per cent, BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya said that after the northeast, West Bengal will be the next target for the party.

“BJP has retained Tripura despite a Left-Congress alliance and an ambitious TMC, which has drawn a blank and voted fewer (<1%) votes than NOTA!” Malviya said.

“In Meghalaya, 12 Congress MLAs joined the TMC. But their tally is now reduced to 5. The northeast has rejected Mamata Banerjee. West Bengal will be next,” Malviya said.

The results in Tripura came as a big boost for the BJP as they gear up for the panchayat election in West Bengal.

While TMC managed to stay in power for the third successive term in the 2021 West Bengal assembly election, BJP raised its stature from three seats to 77 seats.

While political strategist Prashant Kishor was one of the key figures in TMC’s poll strategy, it will be interesting to see how the party charts its course in his absence as it eyes panchayat elections as well as the 2024 general elections.

Member of Parliament and BJP Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar said, “Even minorities understand that TMC won’t be able to help them in any kind of development.”

“On the other hand, take a look at Nagaland. The minority community there has faith in our PM Narendra Modi. Have faith in the BJP because it is the only party that can save Bengal from TMC’s bad governance,” Majumdar said.

Pointing to the recent attack on the convoy of Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nisith Pramanik, in Coochbehar’s Dinhata, Majumdar also questioned the law and order situation in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the people of Meghalaya for their support.

“I want to congratulate the people of Meghalaya. We started our drive in Meghalaya only six months ago, and today we have secured a 15 per cent vote-share. This will help us resolve to attain the status of the national party. We are the principal opposition in Meghalaya. In the coming years, we will perform even better,” CM Banerjee said.

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