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BJP Targets Narrow-Margin Seats in Bengal for 2026 Polls Comeback

The BJP in West Bengal is concentrating on constituencies where its candidates lost by fewer than 10,000 votes in both the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Party analysis suggests Left Front votes in these seats often helped the TMC win, prompting a strategy to attract anti-TMC, non-BJP voters. Simultaneously, the BJP is monitoring the ongoing voter list revision, which has already seen over 58 lakh deletions and may exceed 1 crore. With the BJP leading in 90 constituencies in the 2024 analysis, these targeted efforts aim to bridge the gap to the 148-seat majority needed in the 2026 elections.

Key Points: BJP Focuses on Narrow-Defeat Seats for Bengal 2026 Elections

  • Defeat margin under 10,000 votes
  • Targeting anti-TMC, non-BJP votes
  • Voter list revision impacts strategy
  • 90 seats led in 2024 analysis
2 min read

Bengal 2026 polls: BJP targets constituencies with narrow defeat margins

BJP identifies West Bengal constituencies with under 10,000-vote defeat margins from 2021 & 2024 polls, aiming to sway anti-TMC votes for 2026.

"We are giving special emphasis targeting the non-BJP, but anti-Trinamool Congress votes in our favour in 2026. — BJP state committee member"

Kolkata, Dec 27

With the West Bengal Assembly elections due next year, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has begun focusing on constituencies where its candidates suffered narrow defeats in the last two electoral contests.

The party has set a benchmark to identify those constituencies where the defeat margins of their candidates were less than 10,000 votes, both in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls and Assembly-wise results of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"Although in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, our number of winning seats was less than what it was in 2019, in terms of assembly-wise results, our performance had been better than what it was in the 2021 Assembly polls. After detailed analysis of the results of each of the 294 assembly constituencies both in 2021 and 2024, we have identified such constituencies with thinner defeat margins on which special focus is being laid," a BJP state committee member said.

He also said that in most of these assembly constituencies where the defeat margins of our candidates were 10,000 votes or less, a substantial chunk going for CPI(M)-led Left Front candidates helped Trinamool Congress candidates secure victories. "So accordingly, we are also giving special emphasis targeting the non-BJP, but anti-Trinamool Congress votes in our favour in 2026," the state committee member added.

After the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls, the BJP emerged as the largest opposition party in West Bengal, winning a total of 77 seats. An assembly-wise analysis of results in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls showed that the BJP candidates were ahead of their Trinamool Congress rivals in 90 constituencies. The magic figure required to grab power in West Bengal is 148.

At the same time, the state committee member added that the party leadership is keeping a close watch on the assembly-wise deletion of voters' names following the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.

Names of 58.20 lakh voters have already been deleted from the draft voters' list published on December 16. The hearing process on the claims and objections began on Saturday.

The BJP expects the total number of deleted voters to rise to above 1 crore in the final voters' list to be published in February next year. Shortly after the publication of the final voters' list, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the polling dates for the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a Bengali, I just want a stable government that focuses on development, not just political games. Both TMC and BJP need to tell us their concrete plans for jobs, infrastructure, and women's safety. That's what matters more than seat calculations. 🙏
R
Rohit P
The deletion of 58 lakh+ voters is a huge concern. Hope the ECI ensures complete transparency. Every legitimate voter's right must be protected, regardless of which party they support. This is the foundation of our democracy.
S
Sarah B
Interesting data-driven approach. Targeting constituencies with sub-10k margins is a classic political tactic. The key will be their local candidate selection and whether they can truly unite the anti-incumbency vote.
V
Vikram M
They are right about the Left votes splitting the anti-TMC vote. But it's not so simple. Many traditional Left voters would never switch to BJP. The party needs a strong local face in Bengal, not just central leaders campaigning.
K
Kavya N
All this talk of 'magic figure 148'... I wish parties would magic up some better roads, schools, and hospitals first! Elections come and go, but our daily struggles remain the same. 🤷‍♀️
M
Michael C
Respectfully, while the strategy

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