In Bengal, Phase 3 Polls an Existence Battle for Left & Congress; EC Readies to Combat Violence

Naka checking underway in Domkal ahead of the Phase 3 Lok Sabha polls. (News18)

For the Congress and Left, who have been archrivals in Bengal, fighting elections together is a herculean task and the TMC and BJP hope to capitalise on that

This May 7, as the country gears up for Phase 3 of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal will be in focus as constituencies often hit by violence — Murshidabad, Jangipur, North Maldah, and South Maldah — will cast their votes. Apart from these, assembly bypolls will be held in Bhagabangola.

The Violence Challenge

About 406 companies of CAPF have been deployed for Phase 3 as the area is known for violence. In the last panchayat elections, 16 people were killed in the region. In the past few days, 25 bombs have been recovered from the area. A total of 332 Quick Response Teams will be present from the central forces as per the directives of the Election Commission.

Flashback 2019

North Maldah was won by BJP by about 84,000 votes, while Congress clinched South Maldah with 8,222 votes. The Trinamool Congress won Jangipur by more than two lakh votes and Murshidabad too by more than 2 lakh votes.

The Minority Card

The four Lok Sabha seats equal 28 assembly constituencies, most of which have more than 50 per cent minority population. Assembly constituencies like Bhagabangola, Sujapur, and Raninagar have 80 per cent minority voters.

The Trinamool Congress is on its own here but the Left and Congress are fighting together on all four seats.

The area was traditionally a Congress belt, with former President Pranab Mukherjee holding Jangipur. Maldah, too, was Congress’s stronghold. As per party insiders, Phase 3 is do-or-die for Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and CPM secretary Md Salim who is contesting from Murshidabad against Abu Taher Khan.

The Left and Congress are confident of defeating BJP and TMC by projecting the Sagardighi model. In Sagardighi, the Congress won the 2023 bypolls by more than 22,000 votes, giving Chowdhury ammunition that minorities are unhappy with TMC.

On the other hand, TMC made winning Congress candidate Bayron Biswad join their party, signalling the significance of the polls.

Adhir in Focus

It was 2016 when Left and Congress came together to fight the Trinamool Congress in an assembly election. The parties, however, failed miserably because, as per experts, data showed that while Left votes were transferred to Congress, the Grand Old Party failed to convince their voters to support the Left.

For the Congress and Left, who have been arch rivals in Bengal, fighting elections together is a herculean task. In the 2008 panchayat polls, about 50 people had died due to clashes between the two parties.

BJP, meanwhile, has one seat in Phase 3 as North Maldah’s BJP MP Khagen Murmu is working hard to hold onto his seat. He is being challenged by former IPS Prasun Banerjee from TMC.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.