West Bengal Poll 2021: The Shape of Things Emerging: BJP is Squarely Thrased in (an almost strictly) Bipolar Fight

[Sukla Sen]

West Bengal Poll:

Looks like that the crude and ugly vulgarity of "Didi, O Didi!" (persistent catcalls by a roadside bully?) has been duly responded to - in full measure, by Bengal voters.

For now, the TMC appears to be leapfrogging ahead.

Even more importantly, its vote-share, as it appears, may, eventually, be around 48%, leaving well behind the 43% in 2019 and even its highest ever 45% in 2016.

As it appears, the drummed-up bogey of "anti-incumbency" was just that, only a bogey.

What's most significant is that the team BJP, consisting also of the ECI, central forces, ED, CBI etc., appears to have fallen flat right on its face.

Its vote-share is likely to shrink by some 2% points, as compared to the preceding poll.

In terms of seats, as against the Shah's claim of over 200, now, it looks that even the bare three-figure mark will remain well beyond the reach.

Only consolation is that, in Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee is trailing.

But, hardly matters.

The CPI(M) is set to further shrivel - from 6% to 5% or thereabout.

The Congress is dipping much sharper.

It has, in a big way, yielded ground to the TMC in its strongholds of (Muslim-majority) Murshidabad and Maldah - presumably, triggered by the wholesale shift of Muslim votes.

This poll outcome is also a stark demonstration - as stark as it could be, that the regime is yet not able to manipulate the EVMs in any significant manner.

One must forsake the dangerous and suicidal demand of "back to ballot box!" and focus on plugging the potential loopholes and ask for tallying the VVPAT slips with counts by at least 10% of the EVMs - randomly chosen after the polling having been over.

Not to mistake, the coming days are bound to turn even darker before the arrival of the wished for dawn.

One only hopes that the TMC would acknowledge its responsibilities with due humility and prudence and be able to make a meaningful transition, leaving behind its somewhat murky past.

It must realise that in order to survive it has to broaden its support base.

And, above all, the ordinary people will have to rise, and rise in a big big way, to tackle the looming monumental threats.

In Bengal, and all over India.

Let's do our bits.

Current Trend: Leading

Early Morn. (Time not noted)

TMC: 21

BJP: 11

Ind: 1

09:48

TMC: 29

BJP: 14

Ind:1

10:35

TMC: 112

BJP:58

Ind: 2

11:41

TMC: 187

BJP: 84

13:10

TMC: 202

BJP:77

(Out of 284 seats for which counting is on.

Out of total 294 seats, election has been held for 292; 2 being, temporarily, withheld because of death of candidates.)