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New Delhi: West Bengal’s politics can be defined as a battleground of ideologies, movements, and leadership struggles. The state went from being a Congress fiefdom to being a Left bastion Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s stronghold.
The state is one of the most politically vibrant states in the country. West Bengal’s politics is an intricate web of history, revolutions, and aspirations.
The political history of the state is incomplete without going back to its colonial past. Under British rule, Bengal was a hub of nationalist movements. The 1905 partition was one of the earliest instances of political manipulation that led to protests and the emergence of Swadeshi movements.
After independence, the state was partitioned into two: West Bengal and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The communal violence and refugee crisis had a long-lasting effects on the state’s socio-political fabric.
Much like the rest of India, Congress dominated West Bengal’s politics after independence. Kolkata remained an industrial heartland during the period. The state had a strong workforce and trade union movements.
However, dissatisfaction grew among the working class and peasants due to economic stagnation, food shortages, and unemployment during the 1960s. The rise of left-wing ideologies, coupled with a strong trade union movement, led to increasing unrest.
The Naxalbari uprising of 1967, an armed movement inspired by Maoist ideologies, also began during the Congress's rule.
The 1967 elections saw the Congress losing its majority for the first time in the state. The United Front formed the government in the state. It was a coalition of left-leaning and regional parties. However, the period was marred by instability and frequent leadership changes.
This period also saw the rise of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in the state and the country. The peasant movements and land rights struggles during this period laid the groundwork for the CPM’s eventual dominance for over three decades.
The CPM-led Left Front under the leadership of Jyoti Basu won the 1977 assembly elections. The Left Front's tenure lasted for an unprecedented 34 years and remains the longest-running elected communist government in the world.
One of the major achievements of the Left Front was land reforms. They granted land rights to sharecroppers. The communists also tried to improve rural livelihoods.
While the land reforms were successful and popular, the Left’s approach to industrial policies led to economic downturns. Many large businesses moved out of Bengal during the Left's regime as strong trade unionism and frequent labour strikes discouraged industrial investment.
The downfall of the Left Front began in the mid-2000s when the government attempted to promote industrialisation by acquiring land for factories. Two major flashpoints were in Singur and Nandigram. The alleged forced land acquisitions triggered violent protests.
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC capitalised on this discontent. The party positioned itself as the champion of farmers and the working class. The anti-land acquisition movements became a turning point that eventually led to the Left Front’s decline in the state from which it is yet to recover.
The 2011 elections saw Mamata Banerjee’s TMC sweeping the state, ending the Left Front’s 34-year rule. Mamata took oath as new CM and built her support base on populist policies, grassroots connections, and strong opposition to the Left.
Mamata Banerjee’s government launched many welfare schemes, including Kanyashree (a financial assistance program for girls' education), Sabuj Sathi (bicycle distribution for students), and Swasthya Sathi (health insurance for citizens). These schemes helped her maintain a strong voter base among women, youth, and lower-income groups.
However, TMC's tenure has been marked by corruption allegations, violence against political adversaries, and governance challenges. The Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting operation also dented the TMC’s image. But it remained electorally strong.
Another important and major incident was the RG Kar incident, where a PGT woman doctor was raped and murdered inside the premises. Doctors in the state protested for weeks and the incident severely dented TMC and Mamata Banerjee's image.
The BJP made inroads in the state after 2014 after being on the margins for years. The party used religious polarisation and anti-incumbency sentiments against the TMC to create a space for itself in the state.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won 18 out of 42 seats in Bengal. However, in the 2021 assembly elections TMC bagged a landslide victory despite BJP’s aggressive campaign. In 2024 general elections and various bypolls, TMC outmuscled BJP in the state.
The 2026 assembly elections promises to be filled with fireworks with both BJP and TMC already in campaigning mode.
