The Election Commission has declared that West Bengal will conduct its Lok Sabha elections in seven phases for the year 2024, commencing on April 19. The election results are slated to be announced on June 4, just before the deadline of June 16 for the formation of a new government.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee witnessed a decrease in seats from 30 to 18, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made substantial gains, securing 18 seats compared to just two in 2014.
Phases and Polling Dates:
– April 19: Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar
– April 26: Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat
– May 7: Malda, Murshidabad, Jangipur
– May 13: Bardhaman, Berhampore, Durgapur, Ranaghat, Bolpur
– May 20: Howrah, Ulluberia, Hoogly, Sreerampur, Barrackpore, Bongaon
– May 25: Kanthi, Tamluk, Ghatal, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur, Medinipur, Jhargram
– June 1: North and South Kolkata, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Dum Dum, Barasat, Bashirhat, Joynagar, Mathurapur
Significance of West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024
In the 2019 elections, the TMC experienced a decline in seats, while the BJP made substantial gains, reflecting a notable shift in the state’s political dynamics. Opinion polls suggest a likelihood of the BJP winning a greater number of seats this time, with projections indicating that the BJP may secure 25 out of 42 seats in the state. However, TMC remains optimistic about winning approximately 30 to 35 seats in Bengal.
The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 are expected to witness nearly 97 crore eligible voters participating across over 12 lakh polling stations. The Modi government anticipates the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning over 400 seats, with the BJP alone expected to secure over 370 seats.
(With inputs from agencies)
