HEIR STYLE
THE WEEK India|June 16, 2024
Mamata Banerjee’s popularity and her nephew Abhishek’s campaign strategy stalled the BJP’s momentum in Bengal
NILADRY SARKAR
HEIR STYLE

The election results in West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress won 29 of 42 seats, have taken everyone by surprise. Despite the Trinamool’s landslide victory in the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP seemed to be gaining momentum ahead of the general elections. However, the results have underscored the significant challenges to the BJP’s hindutva rhetoric in West Bengal. The outcome also highlights the enduring popularity of Mamata Banerjee and the growth of her nephew Abhishek as the most influential leader in state politics after her.

Mamata, in an address to the media, attributed the victory to the common people and the opposition alliance. “Had [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi achieved majority on his own, he would have committed more atrocities,” she said. “But now we will not spare them. Hopefully INDIA members will also not spare them. Our team will only increase.”

The Trinamool contested the polls on the plank of the state government’s welfare schemes, especially those targeted at women. If Mamata was the face of the campaign, the driving force was Abhishek. Not that he had it easy. The 36-year-old has faced many a summons by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. Even within the party, the old guard has often questioned his leadership. But Abhishek seems to have sailed through all the crises and engineered a successful election for his party. He won his Diamond Harbour seat for the third time, with a record margin of more than 7 lakh votes—the highest in the history of parliamentary polls in West Bengal. Mamata, too, acknowledged his efforts during her press conference.

Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE WEEK INDIASe alt
The female act
THE WEEK India

The female act

The 19th edition of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was of the women and by the women

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
A SHOT OF ARCHER
THE WEEK India

A SHOT OF ARCHER

An excerpt from the prologue of An Eye for an Eye

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE
THE WEEK India

MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE

50 years. after his first book, Jeffrey*Archer refuses to put down his'felt-tip Pilot pen

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Smart and sassy Passi
THE WEEK India

Smart and sassy Passi

Pop culture works according to its own unpredictable, crazy logic. An unlikely, overnight celebrity has become the talk of India. Everyone, especially on social media, is discussing, dissing, hissing and mimicking just one person—Shalini Passi.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping
THE WEEK India

Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping

PORTS AND ALLIED infrastructure development are at the heart of India's ambitions to become a maritime heavyweight.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024
MADE FOR EACH OTHER
THE WEEK India

MADE FOR EACH OTHER

Trump’s preferred transactional approach to foreign policy meshes well with Modi’s bent towards strategic autonomy

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
DOOM AND GLOOM
THE WEEK India

DOOM AND GLOOM

Democrats’ message came across as vague, preachy and hopelessly removed from reality. And voters believed Trump’s depiction of illegal immigrants as a source of their economic woes

time-read
4 mins  |
November 24, 2024
WOES TO WOWS
THE WEEK India

WOES TO WOWS

The fundamental reason behind Trump’s success was his ability to convert average Americans’ feelings of grievance into votes for him

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
POWER HOUSE
THE WEEK India

POWER HOUSE

Trump International Hotel was the only place outside the White House where Trump ever dined during his four years as president

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
DON 2.0
THE WEEK India

DON 2.0

Trump returns to presidency stronger than before, but just as unpredictable

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024