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The outgoing Chief Minister [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]] tendered his resignation to [[Governors of West Bengal|Governor]] [[M.K. Narayanan]].<ref>http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bengal-rout-completes-cpms-downhill-journey/152237-37-64.html</ref> |
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==End to world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government== |
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The election results, announced on May 13, 2011, declared the the electoral defeat the 34-year old [[CPI(M)]] government, thereby marking an end to world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646</ref> The communists, who were in power in [[West Bengal]] since 1977, were increasingly blamed for the state's economic decline. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646</ref> The state capital of [[Kolkata]] was ranked last out of 17 major Indian cities for ease of doing business, according to a recent World Bank report. <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576320482677562222.html?mod=wsj_india_main</ref> By early afternoon, and with most votes counted, the difference in the seats between the parties became apparent and and the outgoing Chief Minister [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]] tendered his resignation to the [[Governors of West Bengal|state governor]], [[M.K. Narayanan]]. The huge margin of defeat, and the sharp decline of seats from holding 233 out of the 294 seats to merely 32 seats was reported as being indicative of the people's frustration with the government.<ref>http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bengal-rout-completes-cpms-downhill-journey/152237-37-64.html</ref> The loss also coincided with a [[Kerala State legislative assembly election, 2011|communist electoral loss]] in [[Kerala]]. Opposition Leader,[[Mamata Banerjee| Ms. Mamata Banerjee]] is expected to be the next chief minister.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576320482677562222.html?mod=wsj_india_main</ref> The election result was read as having a significant impact on the national political scene.<ref>http://www.firstpost.com/politics/election-scenarios-playing-the-%e2%80%98what-if%e2%80%99-game-9049.html</ref> |
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==Analysis== |
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The election result was read as having a significant impact on the national political scene.<ref>http://www.firstpost.com/politics/election-scenarios-playing-the-%e2%80%98what-if%e2%80%99-game-9049.html</ref> |
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The election marked the defeat of the 34-year rule of the CPI (M) government, thereby marking an end to world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government,<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646</ref> who were blamed for the state's economic decline.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646</ref> The West Bengal capital of [[Kolkata]] was ranked last out of 17 major Indian cities for ease of doing business, according to a recent World Bank report.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576320482677562222.html?mod=wsj_india_main</ref> The Communist loss also coincided with another [[Kerala State legislative assembly election, 2011|electoral loss]] in [[Kerala]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 14:33, 13 May 2011
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The West Bengal state assembly election, 2011 is occurring from April 18, 2011 to May 10, 2011, in six phases for all the 294 seats of the Vidhan Sabha in the state of West Bengal in India.[1] The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front won the previous election with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee serving as Chief Minister.
The Trinamool Congress won an absolute majority of seats.[2]
Background
legislative assembly election for the Vidhan Sabha, since political agitation and violence in Nandigram and the Tata Nano Singur controversy, led by opposition party chief Mamata Banerjee. caused deaths by police firing amidst protests.
The Left Front has served West Bengal since 1977. The election also follows the defeat of the Left Front in the Indian general election, 2009, as well as its relatively poor showing in Panchayat and municipal elections.[3]
Delimitation
The 2011 election adopted re-drawn electoral constituencies based on the 2001 census, following the 2002 Delimitation Commission of India, whose recommendations were approved in February 2008.[4]
Polling schedule
Chief Election Commissioner of India S. Y. Quraishi announced that polling in West Bengal will be spread over six phases between 18 April and 10 May for the constituencies of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha.[5][6]
Date | No of assembly constituencies | |||
Phase I | 18 April | 54 | ||
Phase II | 22 April | 50 | ||
Phase III | 27 April | 75 | ||
Phase IV | 3 May | 63 | ||
Phase V | 7 May | 38 | ||
Phase VI | 10 May | 14 | ||
Counting | 13 May | 294 | ||
Source: Election Commission of India |
Phase I
54 constituencies went to the polls:
Mekliganj (SC), Mathabhanga (SC), Coochbehar Uttar (SC), Coochbehar Dakshin, Sitalkuchi (SC), Sitai (SC), Dinhata, Natabari, Tufangunj, Kumargram (ST), Kalchini (ST), Alipurduars, Falakata (SC), Madarihat (ST), Dhupguri (SC), Mayanaguri (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC), Rajganj (SC), Dabgram-Fulbari, Mal (ST), Nagrakata (ST), Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Matigara-Naxalbari (SC), Siliguri, Phansidewa (ST), Chopra, Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad (SC), Kaliaganj (SC), Raiganj, Itahar, Kushmandi (SC), Kumarganj, Balurghat, Tapan (ST), Gangarampur (SC), Harirampur, Habibpur (ST), Gazole (SC), Chanchal, Harishchandrapur, Malatipur, Ratua, Manikchak, Maldaha (SC), English Bazar, Mothabari, Sujapur and Baisnabnagar.
Phase II
50 constituencies went to the polls:
Farakka, Samserganj, Suti, Jangipur, Raghunathganj, Sagardighi, Lalgola, Bhagaban Gola, Raninagar, Murshidabad, Nabagram (SC), Khargram (SC), Burwan (SC), Kandi, Bharatpur, Rejinagar, Beldanga, Baharampur, Hariharpara, Naoda, Domkal, Jalangi, Karimpur, Tehatta, Palashipara, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar Uttar, Nabadwip, Krishnanagar Dakshin, Santipur, Ranaghat Uttar Paschim, Krishnaganj (SC), Ranaghat Uttar Purba (SC), Ranaghat Dakshin (SC), Chakdah, Kalyani (SC), Haringhata (SC), Dubrajpur (SC), Suri, Bolpur, Nanoor (SC), Labpur, Sainthia (SC), Mayureswar, Rampurhat, Hansan, Nalhati and Murarai.
Phase III
75 constituencies went to the polls:
Bagdah (SC), Bongaon Uttar (SC), Bongaon Dakshin (SC), Gaighata (SC), Swarupnagar (SC), Baduria, Habra, Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Noapara, Barrackpur, Khardaha, Dum Dum Uttar, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Rajarhat New Town, Bidhan Nagar, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Deganga, Haroa, Minakhan (SC), Sandeshkhali (ST), Basirhat Dakshin, Basirhat Uttar, Hingalganj (SC), Gosaba (SC), Basanti (SC), Kultali (SC), Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Kulpi, Raidighi, Mandirbazar (SC), Jaynagar (SC), Baruipur Purba (SC), Canning Paschim (SC), Canning Purba, Baruipur Paschim, Magrahat Purba (SC), Magrahat Paschim, Diamond Harbour, Falta, Satgachia, Bishnupur (SC), Sonarpur Dakshin, Bhangore, Kasba, Jadavpur, Sonarpur Uttar, Tollygunj, Behala Purba, Behala Paschim, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Metiabruz, Kokata Port, Bhabanipore, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Chowrangee, Entally, Beleghata, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Maniktala and Kashipur-Belgachia.
Around seventy seven per cent voting was recorded in the third phase of West Bengal assembly polls in 75 seats covering Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas districts on Wednesday. Among the important political figures whose fates were sealed in ballots include Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, Housing Minister Gautam Deb, Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu, Land Revenue Minister Abdur Rejjak Mollah, Sports Minister Kanti Ganguli, FICCI secretary general Amit Mitra, Leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee and Kolkata Mayor Shovan Chatterjee.
Phase IV
63 constituencies went to the polls:
Bally, Howrah Uttar, Howrah Madhya, Shibpur, Howrah Dakshin, Sankrail (SC), Panchla, Uluberia Purba, Uluberia Uttar (SC), Uluberia Dakshin, Shyampur, Bagnan, Amta, Udaynarayanpur, Jagatballavpur, Domjur, Uttarpara, Sreerampur, Champdani, Singur, Chandannagore, Chunchura, Balagarh (SC), Pandua, Saptagram, Chanditala, Jangipara, Haripal, Dhanekhali (SC), Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Arambag (SC), Goghat (SC), Khanakul, Tamluk, Panskura Purba, Panskura Paschim, Moyna, Nandakumar, Mahisadal, Haldia (SC), Nandigram, Chandipur, Patashpur, Kanthi Uttar, Bhagabanpur, Khejuri (SC), Kanthi Dakshin, Ramnagar, Egra, Bardhaman Dakshin, Jamalpur (SC), Monteswar, Kalna (SC), Memari, Bardhaman Uttar (SC), Bhatar, Purbasthali Dakshin, Purbasthali Uttar, Katwa, Ketugram, Mangalkot and Ausgram (SC)
Phase V
38 constituencies went to the polls:
Dantan, Keshiary (ST), Kharagpur Sadar, Narayangarh, Sabang, Pingla, Kharagpur, Debra, Daspur, Ghatal (SC), Chandrakona (SC), Keshpur (SC), Purulia, Manbazar (ST), Kashipur, Para (SC), Raghunathpur (SC), Saltora (SC), Chhatnam, Bankura, Barjora, Onda, Bishnupur, Katulpur (SC), Indus (SC), Sonamukhi (SC), Khandaghosh (SC), Raina (SC), Galsi (SC), Pandabeswar, Durgapur Purba, Durgapur Paschim, Raniganj, Jamuria, Asansol Dakshin, Asansol Uttar, Kulti and Barabani.
Phase VI
14 constituencies will go to the polls:
Nayagram (ST), Gopiballavpur, Jhargram, Garbeta, Salboni, Medinipur, Binpur (ST), Bandwan (ST), Balarampur, Baghmundi, Joypur, Ranibandh (ST), Raipur (ST) and Taldangra.
Parties
- All India Trinamool Congress
- Indian National Congress (INC)
- Nationalist Congress Party
- Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)[citation needed]
- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha[citation needed]
- Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Communist Party of India
- Revolutionary Socialist Party
- All India Forward Bloc
- Revolutionary Communist Party of India
- Marxist Forward Bloc
- Samajwadi Party[citation needed]
- Democratic Socialist Party
- Others
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Issues
Mamata Banerjee ended her campaign on 9 May in the constituency of the incumbent CM Bhattacharjee in Jadavpur a day after Bhattacharjee made an appeal to the electorate there to return him to power. Before campaigning ended 17:00, she appealed to the electorate to "Help me bring about change."[7]
Land reform
Following the general election, with the TMC being an important part of the central government's coalition, the central government eased its controversial land acquisition policy for Special Economic Zones. Part of the proposal was that the government would not get involved in land acquisition for private organisations. One official from the central ruling coalition was quoted as saying that "There is a tacit understanding between these two critical allies that there will be no decision on the Land Acquisition Bill until the results of West Bengal state elections are clear."[8] The issue of land acquisition for development also created a battle zone like situation in the villages between armed cadres of the ruling CPM and the Maoists.[9]
Gorkhaland
During the general election the issue of the founding of Gorkhaland as seperate from West Bengal gained prominence along with the victory of Jaswant Singh from Darjeeling consituency for the Bharatiya Janata Party and supported by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (which supports an independent Gorkhaland for ethnic Nepalis as opposed to ethnic Bengalis).
Since the election the issue again cropped up as demands for a seperate Telengana beign bifurcated from Andhra Pradesh grew.[citation needed] During this election CM Bhattacharjee said that Gorkhaland should not be seperated but instead an additional development of the region should occur. He said in Lichupokhri that the agitators for the seperation should "stop your movement for a Gorkhaland. It will never be fulfilled. Concentrate on all round development of Darjeeling as it is the only solution to the issue."[10]
Poll
Party | Seats Contested | Star News-Nielsen | IBN-Week | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Progressive Alliance TMC & INC alliance |
294 | 225 | 222-234 | |||
Left Front | 294 | 34 | 60-72. | |||
Bharatiya Janata Party | 294 | 2 | 2 | |||
Independent/ Others | - | 33 | 10-2 | |||
Total | 294 | |||||
Source: a, |
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Election
On 17 April, the Election Commission of India issued an appeal for all registered voters to turn out for their respective electoral dates.[11]
Result
Template:West Bengal legislative assembly election, 2011
Reactions
The TMC's Mamata Banerjee responded to her victory saying "This is a victory of democracy, victory of Maa, Maati, Manush (mother, land and people). There will be end of autocracy and atrocities." (sic)[12]
The outgoing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya tendered his resignation to Governor M.K. Narayanan.[13]
Analysis
The election result was read as having a significant impact on the national political scene.[14]
The election marked the defeat of the 34-year rule of the CPI (M) government, thereby marking an end to world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government,[15] who were blamed for the state's economic decline.[16] The West Bengal capital of Kolkata was ranked last out of 17 major Indian cities for ease of doing business, according to a recent World Bank report.[17] The Communist loss also coincided with another electoral loss in Kerala.
References
- ^ Assembly Election Schedule 2011
- ^ http://eciresults.nic.in/
- ^ "Buddha fights the big Mamata surge - The Times of India". indiatimes.com. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ "gazette123.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2007 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ "West Bengal Assembly Election 2011 Dates". www.westbengalelections2011.com. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ^ "ac_elec_schedule_2011.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110426/jsp/calcutta/story_13901464.jsp
- ^ "Forbes India - 2011 West Bengal State Elections' Impact on Land Reforms". business.in.com. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ "Bengal intellectuals urge Chidambaram to help disarm Harmad Vahini - Times Of India". articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-20/india/28625487_1_gorkhaland-separate-state-gjm
- ^ "Appeal16042011.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). eci.nic.in. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|year=
(help) - ^ http://www.firstpost.com/politics/mamata-the-dragon-slayer-to-mamata-the-ice-cool-politician-9397.html
- ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bengal-rout-completes-cpms-downhill-journey/152237-37-64.html
- ^ http://www.firstpost.com/politics/election-scenarios-playing-the-%e2%80%98what-if%e2%80%99-game-9049.html
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646
- ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576320482677562222.html?mod=wsj_india_main