Will schemes trump polarisation? Five things to watch out for in West Bengal

Polling in West Bengal, stretched out over seven phases, ended on a violent note on Sunday, underlining the high stakes involved for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the challenger BJP in the state.

With Bengal one of the priority states for the BJP, where the party has invested a lot of time and energy since the 2021 Assembly elections – to largely commensurate gains – a lot will depend on whether it improves its tally of 18 in the Lok Sabha polls.

If that result had startled the TMC, which finished just four seats ahead at 22, a reversal of numbers for the two parties – as predicted by the exit polls – would have repercussions many times over. With the Damocles Sword of corruption cases hanging over its senior leaders, the TMC is well aware of the threat it faces.

For the Congress and CPI(M)-led Left Front, which fought in alliance, the only way is hopefully up. In 2019, the Left Front had failed to open its account while the Congress had won two seats.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always enjoyed an edge among women voters in the state, and with Lakshmir Bhandar, the TMC believes they have a trump card. The Mamata government introduced the scheme in August 2021 as a “thank you” to voters for propelling her to victory, thus warding off the BJP threat. Grants under it were revised just a fortnight ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, meaning that women beneficiaries between the ages 25 and 60 are now entitled to Rs 1,000 each month, credited directly into their bank accounts; Rs 1,200 if they belong to SC/ST groups.

Realising the popularity of Lakshmir Bhandar, the BJP – notwithstanding the Centre’s own women-centric schemes – assured during the elections that it would increase the entitlement if it came