Press "Enter" to skip to content
Dp

West Bengal Political Trends

West Bengal Current CM: Mamata Banerjee (AITC)

Mamata West Bengal Political Trends

Leader of Opposition: Suvendu Adhikari (BJP)

suvendu-e1725257030664 West Bengal Political Trends

Communist Party of India (Marxist)[CPM]: Md Salim

salim West Bengal Political Trends

Indian National Congress (INC): Adhir Ranjan Chowdary

adhir West Bengal Political Trends

All India Forward Bloc: Debabrata Biswas

debabatra West Bengal Political Trends

Indian Secular Front: Abbas Siddiqui

abbas-1024x576 West Bengal Political Trends

Politics:

Politics in West Bengal is primarily shaped by the following major parties: the All India Trinamool Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Bharatiya Janata Party, the National People’s Party, and the Indian National Congress. The state has experienced significant political violence over the decades. Since the 2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the Trinamool Congress has been in power. Prior to this, the state was governed by the Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for more than thirty years.

History:

In 1967, the Naxalbari uprising erupted in northern West Bengal, led by CPI(M) radicals Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The West Bengal government violently suppressed the insurgency, leading to significant infrastructure damage during the 1970s and 1980s, exacerbated by power shortages and Marxist-Naxalite violence. The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War added to the strain with a large influx of refugees. The 1974 smallpox epidemic further worsened conditions.

Political shifts occurred with the 1977 assembly election, when the Left Front, led by the CPI(M), won decisively and governed for over 34 years under Jyoti Basu and later Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. This period saw significant agricultural progress but also incidents like the 1979 Marichjhanpi massacre, where refugees were evicted under CPI(M) rule, leading to numerous deaths.

The 1969 assembly elections saw CPI(M) emerge as the largest party but fail to secure power, resulting in President’s Rule until the Indian National Congress, under Siddhartha Shankar Ray, took control in 1972. Ray’s efforts to suppress Naxalites met with widespread criticism and violence.

In the early 2000s, West Bengal’s economy began recovering, bolstered by economic reforms and Bhattacharjee’s leadership. However, controversy surrounded the Singur Tata Nano project, leading to its relocation due to intense farmer protests supported by Mamata Banerjee. The Nandigram violence in 2007-2008, related to land acquisition for an SEZ, further fueled unrest and controversies.

In the 2011 elections, the All India Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, ended the Left Front’s long rule, marking a significant political shift. The TMC’s tenure has been marked by various scandals, including financial and recruitment scams, yet it retained power with a strong majority in the 2021 elections, securing 215 out of 294 seats.

Lok Sabha:

  • 1951-52: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1957: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1962: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1967: United Front (notably CPI(M))
  • 1971: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1977: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1980: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1984: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1989: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1991: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1996: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1998: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1999: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2004: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2009: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2014: All India Trinamool Congress(TMC)
  • 2019: All India Trinamool Congress(TMC)

Rajya Sabha:

  • 1952: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1957: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1962: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1967: United Front (notably CPI(M))
  • 1971: Indian National Congress(INC)
  • 1977: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1982: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1988: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 1994: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2000: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2006: Left Front (CPI(M) led)
  • 2012: Trinamool Congress(TMC)
  • 2018: Trinamool Congress(TMC)
  • 2024: Trinamool Congress(TMC)

Political Parties:

Political Disputes:

Naxalbari Uprising (1967-1971)

The Naxalbari uprising, initiated in 1967 by CPI(M) radicals Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal, aimed to overthrow the state government through armed struggle. The movement, marked by violent clashes and insurrection, prompted severe state repression and led to significant unrest in West Bengal. This period was characterized by widespread violence and instability, deeply affecting the state’s socio-political landscape.

The Naxalite Movement (1970s-1980s)

Following the initial uprising, the Naxalite movement continued to disrupt West Bengal’s stability throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The ongoing conflict between Maoist rebels and state forces severely damaged infrastructure and contributed to a period of economic stagnation. The state struggled to manage both the insurgency and its associated social and economic impacts.

Singur Tata Nano Controversy (2006-2008)

In the mid-2000s, the Singur Tata Nano project became a focal point of conflict. The Tata Motors factory, intended to produce the low-cost Nano car, faced significant opposition from local farmers led by Mamata Banerjee, who argued that land acquisition for the project displaced and harmed local communities. The intense protests and political agitation led Tata Motors to relocate the factory to Gujarat, marking a major political defeat for the Left Front government and highlighting the clash between development and local interests.

Nandigram Violence (2007-2008)

The Nandigram violence erupted when the Left Front government sought to acquire land for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nandigram. The government’s aggressive push to secure land led to violent confrontations between heavily armed police and local protesters, who were opposed to the expropriation. The conflict resulted in numerous casualties and substantial controversy, fueling political unrest and criticism of the government’s handling of the situation.

Marichjhanpi Massacre (1979)

The Marichjhanpi massacre occurred in 1979 when the Left Front government attempted to evict refugees who had settled on Marichjhanpi island. The eviction process led to widespread death due to starvation, exhaustion, and violent clashes with the police. The incident remains a significant and tragic example of the human cost associated with political decisions and administrative actions during that period.

Saradha Group Financial Scandal (2013)

The Saradha Group financial scandal, which came to light around 2013, involved a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors. The scandal implicated several prominent political figures and led to widespread criticism of the state government’s regulatory oversight. It underscored issues of corruption and financial mismanagement, impacting the political credibility of the ruling party.