With 31 percent vote share in WB by-poll, BJP emerging as second lead

One the party achieves this goal, its next aim would be to rule the state.

For the BJP there is some very good news in Bengal. In the year 2016 the BJP had secured just 8.76 per cent of the vote share in Kanthi Dakshin. In the 2017 by-poll the voting percentage for the BJP increased to 31 per cent.

The vote share of the TMC was at 55.90 per cent and this is an indicator that the BJP has emerged as the main opposition in West Bengal. The increase of the BJP's vote share in the Kanthi Dakshin constituency that the TMC won even prompted the Left and Congress to allege that the BJP was in some kind of understanding with the TMC.

For the BJP, it is important to hold on to this trend with several civic elections scheduled. The BJP in the just concluded by-elections did not eat into the vote share of the Left or Congress. In fact, it was the anti-TMC vote that the BJP managed to bag. If the BJP continues to hold on to this trend then it will emerge as the second largest party in Bengal, pushing aside the Left.

The Left, on the other hand, is fast losing its vote share. Ironically the Left apart from blaming the TMC and BJP of a secret tie-up has not done much to stem the rot. It is fast losing its cadres at the base levels. Moreover, the Left has not found any real issue to counter the TMC. On one hand, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal has found success in promoting pro-poor schemes. The Left, on the other hand, has been focusing on attacking Mamata and this has not worked for the party.

The BJP has decided to continue doing what it has been doing. The only aim of the party is to eat into the vote bank or share of the TMC and then emerge as the second largest party in the state. Once this goal is achieved, the party would aim to rule the state. It may take some more time, but it is not entire out of reach, BJP leaders say.

OneIndia News