Byelections in six seats saw TMC retain five and win BJP’s stronghold Madarihat, vacated after MLAs’ Lok Sabha victories.
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, registered a resounding 6-0 victory in the recent West Bengal Assembly by-elections. The results silenced critics and opposition parties, who had anticipated a backlash against the ruling party due to widespread protests over the R.G. Kar Medical College rape-murder case and corruption allegations.
The by-elections were held in six Assembly seats—Sitai (SC), Madarihat (ST), Naihati, Haroa, Midnapore, and Taldangra—vacated by MLAs who won Lok Sabha seats earlier this year. While the TMC retained the five seats it won in the 2021 Assembly elections, it also managed to wrest Madarihat from the BJP, a significant gain given the constituency’s status as a BJP stronghold in North Bengal.
The TMC’s victory was emphatic, with candidates in Sitai and Haroa winning by margins exceeding 1 lakh votes. Sangita Roy, contesting from Sitai (SC), secured a landslide win with a margin of 1,30,636 votes, polling 76.08% of the votes. Similarly, Sk. Rabiul Islam triumphed in Haroa with 76.63% of the vote, defeating his closest rival by 1,31,388 votes. Both constituencies saw rival candidates, including those from the BJP, lose their deposits.
In Madarihat, a BJP stronghold, TMC candidate Jayaprakash Toppo defeated BJP’s Rahul Lohar by 28,168 votes, marking a critical loss for the saffron party. Other TMC victories included Naihati, where Sanat Dey defeated BJP’s Rupak Mitra by 49,277 votes, and Medinipur, where Sujoy Hazra won by 33,996 votes over BJP’s Subhajit Roy. In Taldangra, Falguni Singhababu secured a comfortable win over BJP’s Ananya Roy Chakraborty by 34,082 votes.
Throughout the campaign, the BJP emphasized corruption charges and the R.G. Kar Medical College incident, hoping to capitalize on public dissent against the ruling TMC. However, these issues failed to sway voters. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar dismissed the by-election losses, stating, “Ruling parties always win bye-elections. The 2026 Assembly elections will be different, and the BJP will come to power.”
Internal discord further hampered the BJP’s prospects. Weeks before the elections, BJP leader John Barla openly criticized his party colleague Manoj Tigga, accusing him of failing to address tea garden workers’ grievances and extorting money from their bonuses. Barla’s public dissatisfaction led to speculation that he and his supporters may have worked against the BJP’s interests, potentially aiding the TMC’s victory. There are also whispers that Barla and his supporters may soon join the TMC.
For the BJP, losing Madarihat, a critical bastion, was a severe blow. Candidate Rahul Lohar alleged widespread rigging and intimidation, claiming that TMC workers drove BJP agents out of polling booths while state police and paramilitary forces remained inactive. The BJP also accused the TMC of creating a “silent terror” environment to influence voters.
The TMC attributed its victory to welfare schemes implemented in tea garden areas, a strategy that reportedly resonated with voters. Kunal Ghosh, TMC’s general secretary, described the results as a testament to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s development initiatives. “We were hopeful that people would vote for Mamata Banerjee’s development initiatives. This 6-0 victory confirms their trust,” he said.
Partha Bhowmick, a TMC leader, dismissed opposition allegations of corruption and malfeasance, stating, “This is people’s answer to those who tried to malign Mamata Banerjee’s image. The voters have proved there was no fault of the government in the R.G. Kar case.”
Political analysts noted a significant shift of BJP voters toward the TMC. Biswanath Chakraborty, a political analyst, highlighted that disillusionment with BJP leadership and lack of central support contributed to the party’s decline. “In villages and towns, BJP supporters have disassociated themselves from the party, seeking peace. This should be a major concern for BJP leadership,” he said.
Chakraborty also criticized the BJP’s central leadership, suggesting that the Modi-Shah-Nadda trio appeared disinterested in countering the TMC effectively. If the BJP fails to address internal issues and regain voter trust, it risks further setbacks in the 2026 Assembly elections.
BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the election process, alleging political violence and voter intimidation. “West Bengal was the only state to witness political violence and death during these elections. Unless the Election Commission ensures free and fair polls, such elections hold little merit,” he said, branding the results as a “blood-tainted win” for Mamata Banerjee.
The TMC’s sweeping victory in the by-elections reaffirms its dominance in Bengal politics, even amidst allegations of corruption and governance lapses. For the BJP, internal rifts, allegations of sabotage, and voter disillusionment remain critical challenges. As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, the BJP faces the uphill task of regaining its footing in Bengal, where the TMC continues to solidify its position.