Watching the unprecedented victory of the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, India, many thought that the BJP would win the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections as well.
But poll surveys conducted by various agencies on the eve of the polls have disproved the earlier notion. Now surveys say that incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may take the crop home and she is set to sit in the West Bengal power again.
It was learnt by telephone-talk from Dhaka to the editor of a widely circulated daily in Kolkata that Mamata Banerjee would eventually retain her power in the state.
However, the number of her seats will be reduced. Mamata will have to fight hard to save the power.
It is true that Mamata Banerjee had cemented her place in the hearts of Muslims in this state.
With the NRC at the Center, there is a fear among the people of West Bengal that if the BJP comes to power, a large number of people from Bangladesh will be sent back.
And so, voters may vote for Mamata's Trinamool at the last minute, because Mamata Banerjee has always said - do not allow a single person to be sent back from her state.
Voting started in West Bengal since last March.
Sensing the attitude of the voters, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh and rushed to the temple of Matua Dharmaguru Harichand Thakur at Orakandi in the southern Gopalganj district and to the Jessoreswari temple in the western district of Satkhira.
Mamata Banerjee? Or any other option? Who is the choice of the people as the Chief Minister of West Bengal? Who will occupy the Vidhan Sabha? Will the Trinamool Congress be able to hold the power once again? Or what, the BJP will come to power?
The total number of seats in the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha is 294. Magic figure 148. In this situation, the third round of public opinion polls of voters is being highlighted. And some surprising information is coming up in it.
Everyone in the survey was asked, who do you like as the Chief Minister of West Bengal? 52 per cent of the people said that their choice is Mamata. The BJP has emerged as the main opposition party in the state.
However, 27 percent people like Dilip Ghosh as the Chief Minister. 7 percent people said that they like Mukul Roy as the Chief Minister. And what if the Left-Congress-ISF alliance comes to power?
Only three percent of the people say that their choice for the post of Chief Minister is Sujan Chakraborty. Besides, only 3 percent of the people like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, another face of the alliance, as the Chief Minister. And 8 percent of people want someone else as chief minister.
Which party can get how many seats in the Vidhan Sabha vote? According to the survey, the grassroots can get 150 to 166 seats. It is believed that the BJP is breathing down the neck of the grassroots in the fight for the power of Bengal.
The survey found that the BJP could win 98 to 114 seats. This time the Left Front, the Congress and the Indian Secular Front or ISF have formed an alliance. They can get 23 to 31 seats. Others can get 3-5 seats.
The survey also found that 54 per cent of people think Mamata's performance as chief minister is good. Similarly, a survey has been conducted on the performance of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. According to 46 per cent people, Narendra Modi's performance as Prime Minister is good
Meanwhile, the first round of voting in Bengal was peaceful. People have supported the BJP by breaking past records. Voting is going on in full swing in the second phase as well. And it is clear, this time the Bharatiya Janata Party is coming to Bengal after winning more than two hundred seats.
This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at a public meeting in Jayanagar.
The Gerua Shibir (camp) has been claiming since before the election that this time they will form a government after defeating the Trinamool Congress and will get more than 200 seats.
The same words were heard from Modi again at the meeting in Jayanagar on Thursday. Modi, overwhelmed by the turnout in the first round, says the start of elections in Bengal has been strong. And this means that BJP will cross 200 seats in Bengal.
Voting is underway in 30 constituencies in four districts of West Bengal. However, the eyes of the whole country are on Nandigram.
Leaving the booth at 3.57 pm today, Trinamool leader Mamtaji said, “I will win in Nandigram. I had never thought about that before. Whatever they do, people are voting for me.”
Without naming BJP candidate Shuvendu Adhikari, Mamata said, “They are committing hooliganism. I will not blame the central forces. The Union Home Minister himself is instructing them. I have repeatedly written to the Election Commission. They did not listen to us. They became vocal against the Prime Minister's campaign on election day.
This time West Bengal will have a long eight-phase vote. Who will have the rule of Bengal this time, we will have to wait till May 2 to know the final result.
Although the start of the polls on March 27 was peaceful, the voting picture of Bengal returned to its familiar rhythm as the day progressed. There are allegations of election violence in the state.
The Purulia Trinamool candidate has even threatened to shoot the BJP leader. There was a big complaint about Vivipat in South Kanthi of East Midnapore district.
Many voters have complained that if they vote for the grassroots, it will go to the BJP. The commission is investigating this allegation. Despite the sporadic unrest, the first round of voting was peaceful.
According to the third round of C-voter opinion polls, the Trinamool could get 150-166 seats in the Vidhan Sabha polls. BJP can get 98-114 seats. The Left-Congress-ISF alliance could win 23-31 seats. Others could win 3-5 seats.
