Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase One: West Bengal’s Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri votes on April 19, in the first phase of General elections. All three Lok Sabha constituencies had been won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019.
As West Bengal’s ruling party Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) looks to set pace in the three North Bengal constituencies, BJP looks to retain their base and extend their tally of 18 seats out of the state’s 42 constituencies.
Notably, TMC had managed to wriggle the three constituencies out of BJP clutch for the 2021 West Bengal Assembly Elections, therefore making tomorrow’s voting a litmus test for the two parties who have meticulously made their presence felt through innumerable pre-poll rallies.
The issues of North Bengal identity politics and of the tea belt are expected to dominate the political discourse. Analysts have said that the elections in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri could determine the course for the next six phases of Lok Sabha Elections in West Bengal.
Voting begins at 7am and will continue till 6pm.
West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase One: Issues raised
One of the bone of contention between TMC and BJP was the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). While this CAA rising on a Modi wave gave BJP the edge during 2019 Lok Sabha Polls in North Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee has remained resolute to oppose the implementation of the same.
In North Bengal, leading the charge against the BJP, CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that “it (BJP) has done nothing for the people of North Bengal”.
While PM Narendra Modi during his visits highlighted alleged corruption and the Sandeshkhali incidents to target the TMC.
West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase One: Arrangement
The state of West Bengal is infamous for violent election process. The Election Commission of India has informed that they have deployed 272 central armed police force (CAPF) battalions in the first phase to ensure that the central security personnel could man every booth.
West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase One: Candidates fielded
BJP and TMC have fielded Rajbongshi or Adivasi candidates to represent significant local caste groups.
Here’s a detailed look at the candidates and constituencies
Constituency: Cooch Behar
Candidates
Nitish Chandra Roy-Forward Bloc
Pia Roy Chowdhury- Congress
Nishith Pramanik– BJP
Jagadish Chandra Burma Basunia- TMC
Results
2019 Lok Sabha election
BJP- 7,28,834
TMC- 6,76,339
LEFT (Forward Bloc)- 46,648
CONG- 28,087
2021 Assembly election (total vote of seven constituencies)
BJP- 7,96,933
TMC- 6,98,829
LEFT (FB) + CONG- 58,031
Constituency: Alipurduar
Candidates
Mili Oraon- RSP
Prakash Chik Baraik- TMC
Manoj Tigga– BJP
Results
2019 Lok Sabha election
BJP- 7,50,804
TMC- 5,06,815
LEFT (RSP)-54,010
2021 Assembly election (total vote of seven constituencies)
BJP- 7,25,347
TMC- 5,81,415
LEFT (RSP)- 68,645
Constituency: Jalpaiguri
Candidates
Debraj Butman- CPI(M)
Nitmal Chandra Roy- TMC
Jayanta Roy- BJP
Results
2019 Lok Sabha election
BJP- 7,60,145
TMC- 5,76,141
LEFT (RSP)- 76,166
2021 Assembly election (total vote of seven constituencies)
BJP- 7,33,130
TMC- 6,81,777
LEFT (RSP)-91,983
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Published: 18 Apr 2024, 09:08 PM IST