The recent elections in Bengal saw the BJP achieving a notable victory, though the competition was fierce. In this context, Rajarhat New Town emerged as a critical battleground, where results hinged on the voting outcomes from specific booths. Notably, a Muslim-majority booth in Musalman Para reportedly swung the vote in favour of the BJP, contributing significantly to the party’s overall success. Analyses indicate that the BJP garnered approximately 97 per cent of the votes from this booth, dramatically altering previous expectations for the election outcome.

The counting process culminated on May 5, where BJP candidate Piyush Kanodia won by a narrow margin of 316 votes against Trinamool Congress’s Tapash Chatterjee. This outcome not only added to the BJP’s overall seat tally of 207 but also sparked controversy surrounding the credibility of the election process.

The Stalwarts of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have questioned the legitimacy of the results, leading to allegations of voting irregularities. Key figures, including TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose, have expressed concerns about the counting methods employed and insinuated possible discrepancies with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

TMC Raises Concerns About Election Integrity

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan also commented on the situation, suggesting that the substantial support for the BJP from a predominantly Muslim booth could indicate manipulation or serious discrepancies in the machine counting processes. The comments point to a broader scrutiny of the integrity of the electoral technology being employed.

The contentious booth number 164 in Musalman Para is at the heart of the controversy. Allegedly bypassed during the initial counting round on May 4, this booth was included in the final tally the following day, dramatically influencing the overall results of the Rajarhat seat.

Evaluating the Voting Patterns

A thorough examination of the voting process revealed that booth 164 had a total of 656 votes, with the BJP receiving a striking 637 votes, and the Trinamool only obtaining five. This means around 88 per cent of Muslim voters from that booth opted for the BJP—an unprecedented phenomenon in the electoral history of Bengal. This unforeseen shift in voting behaviour effectively overturned the TMC’s earlier lead in the election.

In contrast, results from booth number 165, located in the same locality and also having a significant Muslim population, showed starkly different voting patterns. There, the BJP only garnered approximately 5 per cent of the votes, with both the TMC and the Left candidates receiving the bulk of support. Such a divergent outcome from two adjacent booths raises further questions about the electoral alignments and decisions made by Muslim voters in the area.

The results appear surprising, especially given previous electoral trends where the BJP struggled to gain traction among Muslim voters in Bengal. Historically, during the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP secured a mere 4 to 7 per cent of the Muslim vote, while the TMC successfully maintained substantial support in this demographic. However, this latest election indicates a potential shift in voting behaviour that could alter future political dynamics in the state.

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