The last Assembly election results in West Bengal in 2021 gave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lot to celebrate, as the party improved its tally from just three seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021. This was hailed as the BJP’s best performance in the state. However, the party’s fortunes have taken a downturn since then. From 77 seats, the BJP’s current strength in the West Bengal Assembly has dwindled to just 65 after two-time Haldia MLA and BJP leader Tapasi Mondal joined the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday.
Mondal’s defection has come as a significant blow to the BJP and its Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. With barely a year left for the next elections, the BJP is now left with a weakened presence in the Assembly.
Tapasi Mondal’s Switch to TMC
Tapasi Mondal, who had earlier switched from the CPI(M) to the BJP, made her second political move on Monday by joining the Trinamool Congress. She cited the BJP’s “divisive politics” as the reason for her decision, stating that she had repeatedly raised concerns within the party but was ignored. Her departure is seen as a major setback for the BJP in the Purba Medinipur region, which is considered Adhikari’s stronghold. Mondal’s constituency, Haldia, is located in this region.
The BJP, however, dismissed her move, calling her a “political opportunist” and claiming that the people would reject her.
How BJP Lost Its MLAs
Although the BJP began its term as the principal opposition party in West Bengal for the first time, it has struggled to maintain its momentum. Two of its MLAs were fielded as Lok Sabha candidates in the recent parliamentary elections, but both lost to the TMC. These included the Madarihat seat in North Bengal and the Dhupguri Assembly seat in Jalpaiguri district.
The BJP has also witnessed several of its MLAs defecting to the TMC. Prominent among them are Mukul Roy, who returned to the TMC after the 2021 elections, and others like Tanmay Ghosh, Harkali Pratihar Suman Kanjilal, Biswajith Das, and Krishna Kalyani.
More Defections on the Horizon?
The Trinamool Congress has claimed that more BJP MLAs could join its ranks before the 2026 elections. Speculations are rife that Bishnu Prasad Sharma, the BJP MLA from Kurseong, might be next in line. Sharma has been critical of the BJP leadership over its failure to deliver on the promise of “special status” for the hills. He has even hinted at leaving the party if necessary. However, it remains unclear whether he would join the TMC, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not been supportive of the demand for a separate state or special status for the region.
Loyalty Questions and Internal Strife
While Soumen Roy, the MLA from Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur, returned to the BJP after a brief stint with the TMC, his loyalty remains under question, according to local media reports. Roy’s allegiance is believed to lie with Cooch Behar’s Rajbanshi leader, Anant Maharaj. It is alleged that Roy secured the BJP ticket from Kaliaganj in 2021 on Maharaj’s recommendation. Roy’s temporary switch to the TMC coincided with a fallout between Anant Maharaj and the BJP. After the BJP sent Maharaj to the Rajya Sabha, Roy returned to the party. However, tensions between Maharaj and the BJP persist, raising questions about Roy’s future in the party.
