Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim says money, Modi wave and communal politics made the BJP win so many seats in Bengal

West Bengal minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Friday said that “Modi wave”, “use of money”, and “Trinamool Congress’ organisational failure” had made the results so disappointing for the party. He also feels that the Lok Sabha election results won’t impact the Assembly polls scheduled in 2021 for West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress has won 22 out of the 42 seats in Bengal, with Bharatiya Janata Party winning 18 seats and the Congress two. The BJP had huge increase in votes that reflected in both percentage as well as the number of seats the party has won. In 2014, BJP won only two seats from West Bengal.

According to Firhad Hakim, division along religious lines was an important factor in this election. Though the Modi wave is an important factor, the religious division and huge amount of money pumped in for the elections were the main factors, he said.

The Trinamool Congress will hold a review of its performance in the election and try to figure out what led to the loss of the huge number of seats. The ruling party in the state had done huge development work for Bengal, he said, and held large number of meetings and election campaigns. And yet the party lost huge number of seats. Hakim said that this was rather unexpected for the party, and alleged that votes had been “purchased” with money and people had been divided along communal lines.

But with a difference of just three per cent votes and the BJP breathing down its neck, it is going to be rather tough for the Trinamool Congress in the days ahead.