Hindutva Checkmated? Interplay of Religion, Caste and Identity in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election in West Bengal
摘要
Since its outstanding electoral performance in 2019 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the electoral fortunes of the BJP dwindled although it maintained a competitive share of popular votes to that of the ruling TMC. In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party incurred a loss of 8 seats, but gained two seats so that its tally remains 12—6 less than in 2019. In terms of vote share difference between 2019 and 2024, it is about 2%. Constituency level party performance data show that the political map of West Bengal post-2024 is equally dotted with the saffron (BJP) and the green (TMC). The Congress-Left combine is thoroughly marginalized together sharing about 10% popular votes, which is strategically very significant for TMC victory and the BJP defeat. The political competition in the State witnessed a polarized competitive hard Hindutva (BJP) and a soft Hindutva (TMC). The BJP targeted all castes especially the dalits (the Matuas included) and the tribals; the TMC did the same plus making special appeals to the Muslims who comprised about one-third of voters. Religious symbolism, visits of political leaders to temples, offering puja in the Hindu religious garbs marked the electoral campaigns. This chapter examines in detail the party performance in this election in comparative perspective, disaggregates results in terms of caste, community, and gender and identifies the reasons for TMC’s better performance and the BJP’s relative decline over 2019 in the specific social, economic, historical and demographic context of West Bengal. The chapter argues that the BJP has been checkmated somehow but its overall electoral strength is not to be underestimated. We also argue that the BJP in the State is yet to become a Bengali party.