Amidst violence erupting in Murshidabad over the Waqf Act, Mamata Banerjee's government faces intense scrutiny. The opposition BJP's Bengal unit observed April 16 as Hindu Martyrs' Day. Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee addressed an Imam conference, accusing BJP of orchestrating the Murshidabad violence.
She mentioned Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, stating voters support them, yet they fully back the BJP, potentially sacrificing your interests for power. Mamata denied TMC's involvement in the violence, noting that attacks occurred on their leaders' homes too. The areas affected are under Congress influence.
In the verbal clash between BJP and TMC over Murshidabad violence, allegations surface of the ruling party in West Bengal engaging in biased politics. Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar accused Mamata of turning the state into a breeding ground for extremist elements. BJP's co-incharge Amit Malviya vocalized on social media, posting a video about Murshidabad violence, targeting Mamata Banerjee.
Source: aajtak
Amit Malviya posted a video remarking that Mamata Banerjee, who rose to power with the slogan 'Change, not Revenge', appears to be retaliating against the state's Hindus. He questioned how long West Bengal will burn due to appeasement politics. The BJP consistently accuses Mamata's party of such strategies. So, how reliant is TMC on Muslim votes?
How Dependent is TMC on Muslim Votes?
Muslims constitute about 30% of West Bengal's population. Mamata Banerjee mentioned in the assembly that the state has 33% Muslims. Election trends show TMC's grip on Muslim votes is solidifying. According to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), TMC received 22% of Muslim votes in the 2006 assembly elections.
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In the 2011 elections, 35% and in the 2014 general elections, 40% of Muslims supported TMC. The 2016 assembly elections saw 55% Muslim support, the 2019 general elections 70%, and the 2021 assembly elections 75%. The recent Lok Sabha elections saw a slight dip, with 73% of the Muslim community backing TMC.
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Weakening Support Among Hindu Voters
The BJP's rise in the 2014 general elections significantly impacted West Bengal's politics. While TMC's influence among Muslims strengthened, support from Hindu voters declined. The BJP managed to sway a significant portion of the Hindu vote bank.
Source: aajtak
Data from two assembly elections corroborates this. In the 2016 elections, TMC secured 43% Hindu votes, while BJP received 12%. The 2021 elections reversed this; BJP gained 50% of Hindu support, while TMC's backing fell from 43% to 39%.
Outcomes in Muslim-Majority Districts in 2021
In districts like Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Nadia, Muslims hold sway. As per the 2011 census, Murshidabad's population is 66.3% Muslim, Malda's 51.3%, Uttar Dinajpur's 49.9%, Birbhum's 37%, South 24 Parganas' 35.6%, North 24 Parganas' 25.8%, and Nadia's 26.8%.
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In the 2021 assembly elections, TMC won 20 of Murshidabad's 22 seats, eight of Malda's 12, and seven of Uttar Dinajpur's nine seats. In the other districts, TMC secured almost all seats except Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. Peerzada Abbas Siddiqui's Indian Secular Front's Naushad Siddiqui won in that constituency.
Last month, in March, Mamata Banerjee visited Furfura Sharif after nine years. She met with Muslim clerics and participated in an Iftar. Although Peerzada Abbas Siddiqui and ISF's Naushad Siddiqui distanced themselves from the event, her visit was seen as an effort to consolidate Muslim votes.
