BJP may try to tap Bangladesh attacks in October 30 West Bengal bypolls

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which was trounced in the West Bengal polls earlier this year and experienced exodus to the Trinamool Congress, is likely to use the attack on the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh for the October 30 bypolls to Dinhata and Santipur.

With international borders near Dinhata (Coochbehar) and Santipur (Nadia), BJP expects sentiments to work in its favour, according to some party insiders. However, poll analysts believe that Trinamool Congress will sweep the bypolls and may bag all four seats, including two won by BJP.

"With people not supporting BJP's politics, there is a shift in its voter support base. There is a possibility of Trinamool victory in all four bypoll seats and BJP may not retain Dinhata and Santipur," Biswanath Chakraborty told ET. Poll commentator Udayan Bandopadhyay told ET, "all political parties, intellectuals and people from all walks of life were protesting against the issue of violence in Bangladesh. Socio-religious and communal sentiments cannot always be transformed politically. To the common people, Bangladesh is not in front of their eyes. Voters can see only BJP, Trinamool Congress and Left Front. The local equation is prime," Bandopadhyay said.


Bypolls are different from assembly polls too. "There is unique feature of the by-poll is that no party will form a new government here. A party is already in power. So, common voters would not elect another party's candidate, with so much defection from BJP to Trinamool," he said.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who campaigned for his party urged people to 'strengthen the hands of BJP' as opposition by voting for its candidate in Santipur. "BJP will remain the opposition, but its hands will be strengthened if another MLA wins from Santipur," he said.

Santipur and Dinhata seats were vacated as BJP MLAs Nisith Pramanik and Santipur MLA Jagannath Sarkar resigned to remain MPs.