Good Friday was followed by a glorious Saturday for the Trinamool Congress as the party swept the West Bengal bypolls easily. The election of one assembly and one Lok Sabha seat had national significance as both the TMC candidates were former Union ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party. While Babul Supriyo won from Ballygunge assembly seat by 19,904 votes, Shatrughan Sinha won the Asansol parliamentary seat by a margin of 2.97 lakh votes.
In Ballygunge, the Left finished second with its candidate and actor Naseeruddin Shah’s niece Saira Shah Halim. Analysts say that not all Muslim votes in the area went to Supriyo.
The Asansol election was particularly important. This is the seat the Trinamool had never won. A Left stronghold since the late 1980s, Babul Supriyo was eventually snubbed for the BJP in 2014 and he retained it in 2019. The singer-politician switched to the TMC after the party’s resounding assembly election victory last year, necessitating a bypoll. ,
Experts say that Asansol is a big advantage for Trinamool. The area has a large non-Bengali population, and the TMC was also facing infighting. Further, the BJP’s campaign tried to portray Shatrughan Sinha as an “bahri” (outsider), but, despite all the challenges, the TMC election machinery won.
Party insiders believe that, as pointed out by its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the election campaign, it was not an election, but a rise in fuel prices and other alleged anti-people moves by the BJP-led Centre. was to oppose.
The election victory prompted TMC President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to tweet.
I wholeheartedly thank the voters of Asansol Parliamentary Constituency and Ballygunge Assembly Constituency for giving decisive mandate to AITC Party candidates. (1/2)- Mamta Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) 16 April 2022
We consider this a heartfelt good-natured gift of our people to our Maa-Mati-Manush organization. Salute to voters for believing in us again.(2/2) – Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) 16 April 2022
Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who campaigned for both the winning candidates, also tweeted.
Thanks to Asansol and Ballygunge for taking a step towards an India free from haters and oppressors! With your blessings and love, we promise to deliver. Your well being has always been our priority and it is only going to get better from here. pic.twitter.com/YAx7sZFfA8
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) 16 April 2022
Speaking to News18, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha said, “I am glad that the people of Asansol are welcoming me with open arms.”
Babul Supriyo called Shatrughan Sinha’s performance in Asansol “poetic justice”, adding, “I will also work with Shatruji in Asansol, because I know that place like the back of my hand.”
He dedicated his victory to TMC workers, Mamata Banerjee and other senior party leaders and termed it as a rap for those spreading a “malicious campaign” against him.
In last year’s state elections, the BJP won two assembly seats in Asansol, while the TMC got five.
This time Trinamool has taken lead by winning Lok Sabha seats in all the seven assembly constituencies.
BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul said that his party lost in Asansol due to ‘terror’ but added that it needs a good organisation.
“I will repeat what King Porus told Sikandar… that he wanted a king to be treated like a king. I hope Shatrughan Sinha will also treat me as a leader. I am a leader of the people.” I accept the mandate and will use this experience to revive myself and start working. I congratulate Shatrughan Sinha on his victory.”
Paul also took to Twitter and apologized to the Prime Minister for his defeat.
forgive @narendramodi sir..i tried my best but could not give you this seat….my fight is to save democracy in west bengal
Democracy has been murdered in West Bengal
my war is on siri
– Agnimitra Paul BJP (Ula Paulagnimitra 1) 16 April 2022
The BJP has also alleged that water pouches, green paint and bricks were thrown at Paul’s car by Trinamool supporters when she was coming out of the counting center and police escorted her to a safe place. TMC has denied the allegations.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, “These were by-elections and votes generally go to the party in power…there is terror too…but I am sure we will win Asansol in 2024 (Lok Sabha elections).”
Analysts say it was a sweet victory for the TMC, though it has to keep an eye on its minority votes while the BJP needs to come up with new ideas.
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