West Bengal Election Result 2021: Mamata Banerjee Powers TMC to a Stupendous Win for The Third Term

The TMC has demanded recounting in the Nandigram constituency from which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stood, alleging a number of illegalities in the vote-counting process. According to unofficial sources, Banerjee lost the Nandigram assembly elections to BJP candidate and her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari by around 1,700 votes. The TMC has written to the CEO requesting an immediate recounting of votes, party sources said, alleging “tampering and mismanagement of numbers from the EVM and said that the counting process was stalled from time to time and was not reported by the poll panel. The party in its letter to the CEO also alleged that valid votes in favour of Banerjee were rejected while invalid votes for the BJP were counted.

BJP's Vote Share Dips by 2% | The BJP's vote share in West Bengal assembly polls dipped by less than two percent compared to the 2019 general elections while that of TMC jumped by nearly five percent, according to the data provided by the Election Commission. The BJP had bagged 40.7 percent votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and won 18 out of the total 42 in the state, emerging as a main challenger to the ruling TMC which had got 43.3 percent votes.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress party, which ruled the state for nearly six decades between them, face an unprecedented rout in West Bengal assembly elections trailing in all 292 seats which went to polls. An alliance with the newly-formed ISF does not seem to have helped the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress combine. The Congress, which was the main opposition party in the outgoing assembly with 44 seats, had entered into an alliance with the Left Front in the 2016 assembly elections also.

Building up on its success of making a mark in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had an ambition to expand in new areas in West Bengal in recently concluded Assembly elections and enhance its…

Suvendu's Car Comes Under Attack | Stones have reportedly been thrown at Suvendu Adhikari's car as he was leaving the Election Commission Office after collecting his certificate.  

TMC Seeks Nandigram Recount | A delegation of three Trinamool Congress members is meeting the Chief Electoral Officer at Election Commissio office in Kolkata asking for recount in Nandigram where TMC chief Mamata Banerjee was locked in an intense battle with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. High drama surrounded the final results from the constituency as the vote margin between the two remained slim. 

Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to call on Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar tomorrow at 7pm and stake claim after the TMC made a resounding victory in the elections.  

Congratulated @MamataOfficial party win in West Bengal assembly elections.

Tomorrow at 7 PM Hon’ble CM will be calling on me at Raj Bhawan.

— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 2, 2021

Thanking the people as the TMC headed for a landslide victory in the assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that West Bengal has "saved" India with its mandate. "It is the victory of the people of Bengal, the victory of democracy. Bengal has saved India today. This landslide victory came after fighting against several odds -- the Centre, its machinery, its agencies. This victory has saved the humanity," Banerjee said, addressing the press as she stood on her feet for the first time in nearly two months.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar appreciated Trinamool Congress supremo's "stance" to observe COVID-19 guidelines and peace and called
upon the state apparatus to take all steps to ensure peace and order. In a tweet message, Dhankhar said democracy is all about respecting the mandate of the people.  "Violence has no place in democracy. Appreciate stance @MamataOfficial to observe Covid guidelines and peace," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Mamata-led TMC for its resounding victory in the Bengal polls. 

I’m happy to congratulate Mamata ji and the people of West Bengal for soundly defeating the BJP.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 2, 2021

Thanking the people of Bengal for helping the BJP to increase its presence in the state, PM Modi appreciated the efforts of the party workers. "I would like to thank my sisters and brothers of West Bengal who have blessed our party. From a negligible presence earlier, BJP’s presence has significantly increased. BJP will keep serving the people. I applaud each and every Karyakarta for their spirited effort in the polls," he wrote on Twitter.

I would like to thank my sisters and brothers of West Bengal who have blessed our party. From a negligible presence earlier, BJP’s presence has significantly increased. BJP will keep serving the people. I applaud each and every Karyakarta for their spirited effort in the polls.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2021

The BJP will now be compelled into a closer coordination with the mother-ship and its cadres, who have suffered through the pandemic as much as anyone.

While Mamata Banerjee has conceded defeat from Nandigram seat, the TMC has said the counting is still on and no results have been finalised yet.  

The counting process for Nandigram has not been completed. Please do not speculate.

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 2, 2021

Mulling action against the Election Commission, Mamata Banerjee said she will approach the Supreme Court, demanding a 'Lakshman Rekha' for the poll body. "The EC cannot run the country,"  Mamata said. 

Conceding her defeat from Nandigram seat, Mamata said she has accepted the verdict of people. However, implying that she will take oath as the chief minister, Mamata said a decision on lockdown in the state will be taken after she and her cabinet take the oath.  The oath ceremony will be low-key event owing to covid situation in the state.  

"We are grateful to the people for this landslide victory. I have to start working for COVID-19 immediately. The swearing-in will be a low-key event because of the prevailing COVID-19 situation," says Mamata Banerjee as her party makes stellar victory in the elections.  However, suspense continues to loom over Nandigram results where she is locked in an intense battle with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari.  

Mamata Wins Nandigram, Reports ANI | While the Election Commission is yet to confirm Mamata's win against Suvendu Adhikari, news agency ANI has reported that TMC supremo has won the prestige battle by a margin of 1200 votes. 

West Bengal polls: Mamata Banerjee wins from Nandigram

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/ImEKyGf62o pic.twitter.com/uV6bj3j60c

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 2, 2021

I'm Quitting this Space: Prashant Kishor | Announcing his exit as poll strategist,  Prashant Kishor said he is taking a break and won't be strategising for any party as such.  "I failed miserably in politics. I shall learn a few more things," he said.  

"It is very difficult to say why we have won so big, but people wanted to get Mamata one more term," poll strategist Prashant Kishor said while speaking to CNN News18.  "Just because central ministers come an campaign does not guarantee a win. They had huge resources, but that is not enough to win elections," Kishor said about the BJP's loss in the high-octane elections in Bengal. "The insider outsider debate is not a factor. You need to have many things to go right for you to win a state as big as Bengal," he said.  

Speaking on the TMC's thumping victory in West Bengal, Madan Mitra said the party's seat share is massive and unexpected. "There is no doubt that Mamata wil be the chief minister," Mitra said as he thanked the people of Bengal for voting heavily in favour of the Mamata-led TMC. 

Physical distancing went for a toss as TMC supporters, thumbing their noses at the raging COVID-19 pandemic, hit the streets, beating drums, bursting firecrackers and smearing 'gulal' on one another, prompting the Election Commission to call for action. The poll panel, which barred celebratory processions and congregations on after counting of votes, asked the state administration to take action against all police stations that failed to stop enthusiasts from taking out rallies.

The final round of counting is underway for Nandigram constituency where TMC supremo Mamata Benrjee is contested against her former aide and now a BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.  Mamata in the 16th round of counting took a lead of 820 votes. 

Mukul Roy Wins | BJP's Mukul Roy has wo the Krishna nagar Uttar seat with a margin of over 30,000 votes. 

Defence minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh congratulated Mamata as her party TMC braces for a comfortable win in West Bengal. "Congratulations to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial Didi on her party’s victory in West Bengal assembly elections. My best wishes to her for her next tenure," he wrote.  While the party is set to form government in Bengal, Mamata is locked in a tough battle with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram.