West Bengal Elections: BJP’s defeat spearheaded by farmers and supported by Muslim voters

West Bengal has spoken.

On a whole, the state has chosen Mamata Banerjee to continueto lead the state.

There were four reasons for BJP’s defeat, even though versusthe party’s previous performance there has been a massive improvement.

True Scoop News analyses the four reasons for BJP’s defeatin 2021 West Bengal Elections.

1. Farmer protests

The entire world is aware of the protests by farmers againstthe three farm laws by Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).International figures like singer Rihanna and environmental activist GretaThunberg openly support the farmers’ cause.

At the time of writing, farmers are protesting at Delhiborders, something they began in the second half of last year.

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A discussion on the rationale of the laws by BJP and therebuttal by the farmers is beyond the scope of this piece.

However, the writing is on the wall that the farmers haverejected the three farm laws.

The farmers made it clear months back they will continuetheir protests till Gandhi Jayanti 2021, October 2 2021, and beyond. Thisauthor saw a bumper sticker on a vehicle in Punjab showing support to farmers,which read “The longer, the stronger” making a reference to the continuingprotests.

It is with this ferocity that the farmers staged rallies inWest Bengal and almost single-handedly ensured the political party’s downfallor more aptly prevented its rise to majority.

2. Muslim voters

Muslims are a tightly-knit lot. Like some other religions inIndia and the world, they are united and stand against issues together.

West Bengal has about 30% Muslim voters. One of the guidingprinciples of BJP has been an expectation that they will not be able to get anyMuslim vote.

The unshakeable reputation of BJP is that this is a Hindupolitical party.

Also read: Mamata Banerjee to hold a meeting with party leaders later today

Nandigram had been in the news a lot during the electionsbecause one half of Nandigram is Muslim-dominated and the other half isHindu-dominated. The Muslims in their dominated portion openly announced thatthey will not allow any BJP personnel to step foot in their area.

With these sentiments running high, a Muslim voter may havehad options to whom to vote for, but it was clear for them which party to notvote for.

The winning party of Mamata, was able to capitalise on thesentiments, the hopes, and the fears of voters of this religion better than theother parties.

Thus, Modi’s loss was Mamata’s gain.

3. COVID

The second wave of the pandemic has absolutely ravaged thenation and brought the healthcare system to its knees.

International media has exposed the reality of overflowingcrematoriums, no hospital beds for COVID, insufficient medical oxygen leadingto deaths, patients breathing their last at the gates of hospitals waiting formedical attention and oxygen.

And, not to mention the elephant in the room - artificially-inflatedcosts for medical treatment and supplies by the medical fraternity and thepharma and medical industry.

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Modi has made serious mistakes in his handling of thepandemic COVID. A couple of these include exporting vaccines to other nations,allowing a Hindu festival (Kumbh Mela), focusing on political rallies (whereall COVID-appropriate rules were flouted by every party) instead of payingattention to the urgent issue of COVID.

The elections were a way for the people of West Bengal toprovide a voice to the frustration and angst. The mishandling of the life anddeath issue of COVID by BJP has been answered with the party not even breakingtriple digit win of seats.

4. Modi’s disrespectful tone for Mamata

In many states of the nation, an undercurrent of stateversus centre is going on. Considering the huge variety of languages, cultures,food, lifestyles in the various states, it is a wonder in itself that thenation stands together.

Still, talking about West Bengal, the people have a respect for“Didi”, the affectionate name for Mamata, meaning elder sister.

Modi already was up against someone who had home advantageand Mamata too played her cards right claiming Modi and his party as“plunderers”.

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In this scenario, the Prime Minster of the nation referringto his counterpart as “Didi o Didi” in a disrespectful tone was, rightly so,taken as an offense by most people.

This author believes that a disparaging salutation must nothave been used under any circumstances – Modi is performing his role, Mamata isperforming her role – where is the scope of getting personal?

All in all, these four reasons saw that the BJP never had achance in the 2021 elections of West Bengal.