Kolkata: BJP has made steady inroads in the Jangalmahal areas, despite a host of development works carried out by the Mamata Banerjee government in the state.
After coming to power, the Trinamool-led government had pulled
the people out of poverty in the districts of Bankura, Purulia and Jhargram which were earlier plagued by Maoist menace. Banerjee's government had ironed out the issue through the introduction of various development schemes.
A major infrastructure reform was taken up in the Jangalmahal areas and roads were constructed in the villages. Banerjee's brainchild 'Khadyasathi' project had also brought a massive change in the socio-economic lives of the people in the region.
People who had once witnessed the 'Red terror' are now getting rice and other food grains at Rs 2 per kg, while the 'Sabuj Sathi' and 'Kanyshree' projects of the government has benefitted thousands of young girls from various schools.
However, despite all the aforementioned schemes run by the government, the people of Jangalmahal have disappointed Trinamool Congress, setting up BJP for victory in Bankura, Bishnupur and Purulia constituencies. The official announcement in this regard of the Election Commission may come late on Thursday night.
Trinamool Congress heavyweight Subrata Mukherjee who was contesting from Bankura, is on the verge of losing the election. Soumitra Khan, who shifted his allegiance to BJP from the ruling party, is set to win from Bishnupur on BJP's ticket.
It may also be mentioned that Chief Minister Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo, had visited each district of Jangalmahal and held administrative meetings to review the development projects.
Unfortunately, the overall development of the people in the area seemed to have little impact on the election results, as the BJP leaders have set a different political narrative to woo voters in the region.
BJP's Subhas Sarkar is set to defeat Trinamool's Subrata Mukherjee by over 1,72,000 votes from Bankura, while in Bishnupur, Soumitra Khan is on the verge of winning with 6,57,019 votes with his nearest rival Shyamal Santra of Trinamool at 5,78,972.
BJP's Jyotirmay Singh Mahato is set to win with 6,64,671 votes over Trinamool's Mriganka Mahato, who has received 4,61,732 votes.
In Jhargram, Kunar Hembram
of BJP is leading with 6,22,739 votes, while Trinamool Congress candidate Birbaha Saren has received 6,13,073. All the seats are awaiting an official announcement from the Election Commission.