West Bengal: Despite defections to TMC, don’t underestimate BJP's growing influence

In the world of Indian politics, party-switching is nothing new. Leaders often make strategic moves based on political opportunities, alliances, and power shifts. While in many states across the country, we’ve witnessed leaders from various parties gravitating towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Bengal’s political landscape has seen a fascinating reversal of this trend. In a state where the BJP once saw a surge in support, the tables have turned, and BJP MLAs are now joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Latest to Join Mamata Di

One of the latest high-profile defections involves BJP MLA Tapasi Mondal, who recently joined the Trinamool Congress at the party's headquarters. Tapasi Mondal's decision to join the TMC is significant, as she was one of the BJP's prominent faces in the state. Her move to TMC adds to the growing list of BJP leaders gravitating towards Mamata Banerjee fold.

Depleting Numbers

After the BJP won 77 seats in the 294-member Assembly during the 2021 elections, 12 of its MLAs joined the ruling party, reducing its strength to 65. However, as per the law, these legislators cannot officially "join" another party unless there’s a defection, which results in the loss of their Assembly membership. Some of these 12 legislators did not resign from their positions as BJP MLAs, while others voluntarily relinquished their Assembly memberships to trigger bypolls, intending to re-enter the House after winning their seats back.

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BJP Struggling in West Bengal? Not Really.

Although these defections show that BJP MLAs consider TMC a bigger political power in the state, it is important to note that the BJP has made considerable strides in West Bengal. Despite the setbacks, BJP’s vote share has dramatically increased from 17% to 39.1% over the past 10 years.

In 2021, BJP left no stone unturned in its efforts to defeat Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, but despite its aggressive campaign, TMC returned to power. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested all 42 seats and won 12, while TMC secured 29 seats. In 2019, the BJP had won 18 seats, which shows a decline in its numbers.

However, West Bengal has never been an easy state for the BJP. For a long time, it was a Left bastion, and after the decline of the Left ideology, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC filled the political void. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won only 2 seats in the state. Over the course of 10 years, the party’s influence has grown significantly, with its seats increasing from 2 to 12 and its vote share rising from 17% to 39.1%.

While the BJP faces challenges in West Bengal, its growth over the past decade should not be underestimated.