Five reasons Mamata won big
- Shikha Mukerjee
- Jun 5, 2024, 22:01 IST IST
* She campaigned like Fury * Her two-path INDIA strategy was politically astute * Abhishek did a lot of heavy lifting * Sandeshkhali took no toll * BJP campaign was over-centralised
The 2024 Lok Sabha result is great news for Bengal’s iconic leader. It marks Mamata Banerjee finally overcoming the bitter disappointment of 2019 elections. Then, Modi’s BJP shocked her by grabbing 18 out of the state’s 42 seats. TMC plummeted to a mere 22 seats, from its all-time high of 34 in 2014 hustings.
This time, the scale of her win has defied various survey estimates, surprised political watchers, and no doubt Modi too. He had said that Bengal would deliver BJP its best performance in 2024 LS elections. What has happened instead confirms a yawning gap between BJP’s understanding of ground realities and the very specific political-cultural sentiment in a state that it had set its heart on acquiring.
This time, the scale of her win has defied various survey estimates, surprised political watchers, and no doubt Modi too. He had said that Bengal would deliver BJP its best performance in 2024 LS elections. What has happened instead confirms a yawning gap between BJP’s understanding of ground realities and the very specific political-cultural sentiment in a state that it had set its heart on acquiring.