West Bengal: Congress contested fewer seats, but won more than its ally, the CPI(M)
While the questionable tie-up did not hurt the Congress – it outdid its tally from 2011 – it hardly helped the CPI(M), which lost a chunk of its constituencies
The Congress managed to win nearly double the number of seats as its alliance partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on Thursday. While the Congress led in 45 of the state’s 294 constituencies, the CPI(M), which had once ruled the state for decades, managed a paltry 24.
The CPI(M)’s vote share was nearly 20%, while the Congress got 12% of the votes. However, the CPI(M) contested more than three quarters of the Left’s 200 seats, while the Congress announced candidates for 90. The seat-sharing formula worked in Congress’ favour largely because it contested seats in North Bengal, a traditional Congress bastion and an area where the Trinamool Congress has little support. The CPI(M) on the other hand contested seats in South Bengal, where the TMC has a stronghold.
As traditional rivals, the two parties had raised eyebrows when they decided to join forces against the TMC and its leader Mamata Banerjee. While making the announcement in March, Congress, called its former ally “despotic and autocratic”. When the Congress and TMC fought the 2011 elections together, the Congress fared well, grabbing 42 seats of the 65 it contested.
The change in loyalties did not affect the Congress’ fortunes this time around. In fact, it looks like it will win three more seats than it did in 2011. The CPI(M), on the hand, had won 40 seats in 2011, sixteen more this time. Its result in the 2016 Assembly elections highlights its downward spiral in the state, especially after the dismal showing in the 2014 Parliamentary elections, when it won just two seats.