User:Jayantanth/WB2011

West Bengal state general election, 2011
294 seats
Incumbent Chief Minister; Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee; CPI(M)	; ;

The West Bengal state assembly election, 2011 is scheduled to occur in April-May 2011 in six phases for 294 seats in the Vidhan Sabha.^[1] The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front won the previous election with Buddhadev Bhattacharya serving as Chief Minister.

Background

This will be the first legislative assembly election since political agitations in Nandigram and Singur led by opposition leader Mamata Banerjee caused deaths by police firing amidst protests.

It also follows the defeat of the Left Front, who have ruled West Bengal since 1977, in the Indian general election, 2009, as well as its relatively poor showing in panchayat and municipal elections.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]^[5]

	Date	No of assembly constituencies	Status
Phase I	18 April	54	Done
Phase II	22 April	50	Done
Phase III	27 April	75	Done
Phase IV	3 May	63	Done
Phase V	7 May	38	Done
Phase VI	10 May	14	Done
Counting	13 May	294	Not done
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

United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

Left Front

Others

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Issues

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."^[6] 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.^[7]

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 Telengana grew.^{[citation needed]} During this election CM Bhattacharjee said that Gorkhaladn should not be seperated but instead a additional development of the region should occur. He said in Lichupokhri that the agitators 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."^[8]

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,

Controversy

Black money

Rajarhat land acquisition

Violence

Election

On 17 April, the Election Commission of India issued an appeal for all registered voters to turn out for their respective electoral dates.^[9]

New reports indicated there was a 74.27% turnout in the first phase. South Dinajpur district recorded the highest turnout with 78.17%, followed by Cooch Behar with 77.10%, Malda with 75.10%, Jalpaiguri with 72.57%, North Dinajpur with 72.43% and Darjeeling with 71%.^[10]

Result

Summary of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, 2011 result
Party	Seats contested	Seats won	Seat change	Vote share	Swing
Trinamool Congress	226	184	154	38.93%	12.29%
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	213	40	136	30.08%	7.05%
Indian National Congress	66^{[template reference 1]}	42	21	9.09%	5.62%
All India Forward Bloc	34	11	12	4.80%	0.86%
Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)	23	7	13	2.96%	0.75%
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha	3	3	3	0.72%	New
Communist Party of India	14	2	6	1.84	0.07%
Samajwadi Party	5	1	1	0.74%	0.03%
Socialist Unity Centre of India (C)	30	1	1	0.44%
Democratic Socialist Party	2	1		0.35%	0.01%
Independents		2	4	3.13%	1.09%
Bharatiya Janata Party	289	0		4.06%	2.13%

Trinamool and allies		227	192
Left Front		62	168
Total		294
Turnout:
Source: Election Commission of India

References

^ Assembly Election Schedule 2011
^ "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)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "gazette123.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2007 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "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)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "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)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "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)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ 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)CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "West Bengal polls: 74% vote in Phase-I". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.

Cite error: There are <ref group=template reference> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=template reference}} template (see the help page).

[1] Assembly Election Schedule 2011

[2] "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)CS1 maint: year (link)

[3] "gazette123.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2007 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

[elcdate-4] "West Bengal Assembly Election 2011 Dates". www.westbengalelections2011.com. Retrieved 2011-03-01.

[5] "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)CS1 maint: year (link)

[6] "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)CS1 maint: year (link)

[7] "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)CS1 maint: year (link)

[8] ttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-20/india/28625487_1_gorkhaland-separate-state-gjm

[9] "Appeal16042011.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). eci.nic.in. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

[phase1turnout-10] "West Bengal polls: 74% vote in Phase-I". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.

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