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West Bengal legislative assembly election, 2011

← 2006 18 April, 2011 - 10 May, 2011 2016 →
All 294 seats in the West Bengal legislative assembly
Leader Buddhadev Bhattacharya Mamata Banerjee Party CPI(M) AITC Alliance LF UPA Leader's seat Jadavpur n/a Seats needed 148 (88) 148 (115)
Incumbent Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya CPI(M)

The West Bengal legislative assembly election, 2011 is scheduled to occur in April-May 2011 in six phases for 294 seats in the Vidhan Sabha. The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front won the previous election with Buddhadev Bhattacharya serving as Chief Minister.

Background

This will be the first legislative assembly election since political agitations in Nandigram and Singur led by opposition leader Mamata Banerjee caused deaths by police firing amidst protests.

It also follows the defeat of the Left Front, who have ruled West Bengal since 1977, in the Indian general election, 2009, as well as its relatively poor showing in panchayat and municipal elections.

Delimitation

The 2011 election adopted re-drawn electoral constituencies based on the 2001 census, following the 2002 Delimitation Commission of India, whose recommendations were approved in February 2008.

Polling schedule

Chief Election Commissioner of India S. Y. Quraishi announced that polling in West Bengal will be spread over six phases between 18 April and 10 May for the constituencies of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha.

	Date	No of assembly constituencies	Status
Phase I	18 April	54	Done
Phase II	22 April	50	Done
Phase III	27 April	75	Done
Phase IV	3 May	63	Done
Phase V	7 May	38	Done
Phase VI	10 May	14	Done
Counting	13 May	294	Not done
Source: Election Commission of India

Phase I

54 constituencies went to the polls:
Mekliganj (SC), Mathabhanga (SC), Coochbehar Uttar (SC), Coochbehar Dakshin, Sitalkuchi (SC), Sitai (SC), Dinhata, Natabari, Tufangunj, Kumargram (ST), Kalchini (ST), Alipurduars, Falakata (SC), Madarihat (ST), Dhupguri (SC), Mayanaguri (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC), Rajganj (SC), Dabgram-Fulbari, Mal (ST), Nagrakata (ST), Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Matigara-Naxalbari (SC), Siliguri, Phansidewa (ST), Chopra, Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad (SC), Kaliaganj (SC), Raiganj, Itahar, Kushmandi (SC), Kumarganj, Balurghat, Tapan (ST), Gangarampur (SC), Harirampur, Habibpur (ST), Gazole (SC), Chanchal, Harishchandrapur, Malatipur, Ratua, Manikchak, Maldaha (SC), English Bazar, Mothabari, Sujapur and Baisnabnagar.

Phase II

50 constituencies went to the polls:
Farakka, Samserganj, Suti, Jangipur, Raghunathganj, Sagardighi, Lalgola, Bhagaban Gola, Raninagar, Murshidabad, Nabagram (SC), Khargram (SC), Burwan (SC), Kandi, Bharatpur, Rejinagar, Beldanga, Baharampur, Hariharpara, Naoda, Domkal, Jalangi, Karimpur, Tehatta, Palashipara, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar Uttar, Nabadwip, Krishnanagar Dakshin, Santipur, Ranaghat Uttar Paschim, Krishnaganj (SC), Ranaghat Uttar Purba (SC), Ranaghat Dakshin (SC), Chakdah, Kalyani (SC), Haringhata (SC), Dubrajpur (SC), Suri, Bolpur, Nanoor (SC), Labpur, Sainthia (SC), Mayureswar, Rampurhat, Hansan, Nalhati and Murarai.

Phase III

75 constituencies went to the polls:
Bagdah (SC), Bongaon Uttar (SC), Bongaon Dakshin (SC), Gaighata (SC), Swarupnagar (SC), Baduria, Habra, Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Noapara, Barrackpur, Khardaha, Dum Dum Uttar, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Rajarhat New Town, Bidhan Nagar, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Deganga, Haroa, Minakhan (SC), Sandeshkhali (ST), Basirhat Dakshin, Basirhat Uttar, Hingalganj (SC), Gosaba (SC), Basanti (SC), Kultali (SC), Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Kulpi, Raidighi, Mandirbazar (SC), Jaynagar (SC), Baruipur Purba (SC), Canning Paschim (SC), Canning Purba, Baruipur Paschim, Magrahat Purba (SC), Magrahat Paschim, Diamond Harbour, Falta, Satgachia, Bishnupur (SC), Sonarpur Dakshin, Bhangore, Kasba, Jadavpur, Sonarpur Uttar, Tollygunj, Behala Purba, Behala Paschim, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Metiabruz, Kokata Port, Bhabanipore, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Chowrangee, Entally, Beleghata, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Maniktala and Kashipur-Belgachia.

Phase IV

63 constituencies went to the polls:
Bally, Howrah Uttar, Howrah Madhya, Shibpur, Howrah Dakshin, Sankrail (SC), Panchla, Uluberia Purba, Uluberia Uttar (SC), Uluberia Dakshin, Shyampur, Bagnan, Amta, Udaynarayanpur, Jagatballavpur, Domjur, Uttarpara, Sreerampur, Champdani, Singur, Chandannagore, Chunchura, Balagarh (SC), Pandua, Saptagram, Chanditala, Jangipara, Haripal, Dhanekhali (SC), Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Arambag (SC), Goghat (SC), Khanakul, Tamluk, Panskura Purba, Panskura Paschim, Moyna, Nandakumar, Mahisadal, Haldia (SC), Nandigram, Chandipur, Patashpur, Kanthi Uttar, Bhagabanpur, Khejuri (SC), Kanthi Dakshin, Ramnagar, Egra, Bardhaman Dakshin, Jamalpur (SC), Monteswar, Kalna (SC), Memari, Bardhaman Uttar (SC), Bhatar, Purbasthali Dakshin, Purbasthali Uttar, Katwa, Ketugram, Mangalkot and Ausgram (SC)

Phase V

38 constituencies went to the polls:
Dantan, Keshiary (ST), Kharagpur Sadar, Narayangarh, Sabang, Pingla, Kharagpur, Debra, Daspur, Ghatal (SC), Chandrakona (SC), Keshpur (SC), Purulia, Manbazar (ST), Kashipur, Para (SC), Raghunathpur (SC), Saltora (SC), Chhatnam, Bankura, Barjora, Onda, Bishnupur, Katulpur (SC), Indus (SC), Sonamukhi (SC), Khandaghosh (SC), Raina (SC), Galsi (SC), Pandabeswar, Durgapur Purba, Durgapur Paschim, Raniganj, Jamuria, Asansol Dakshin, Asansol Uttar, Kulti and Barabani.

Phase VI

14 constituencies will go to the polls:
Nayagram (ST), Gopiballavpur, Jhargram, Garbeta, Salboni, Medinipur, Binpur (ST), Bandwan (ST), Balarampur, Baghmundi, Joypur, Ranibangh (ST), Raipur (ST) and Taldangra.

Issues

Land reform

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2011)

Following the general election, with the TMC being an important part of the central government's coalition, the central government eased its controversial land acquisition policy for Special Economic Zones. Part of the proposal was that the government would not get involved in land acquisition for private organisations. One official from the central ruling coalition was quoted as saying that "There is a tacit understanding between these two critical allies that there will be no decision on the Land Acquisition Bill until the results of West Bengal state elections are clear." The issue of land acquisition for development also created a battle zone like situation in the villages between armed cadres of the ruling CPM and the Maoists.

Gorkhaland

During the general election the issue of the founding of Gorkhaland as seperate from West Bengal gained prominence along with the victory of Jaswant Singh from Darjeeling consituency for the Bharatiya Janata Party and supported by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (which supports an independent Gorkhaland for ethnic Nepalis as opposed to ethnic Bengalis).

Since the election the issue again cropped up as demands for a Telengana grew. During this election CM Bhattacharjee said that Gorkhaladn should not be seperated but instead a additional development of the region should occur. He said in Lichupokhri that the agitators should "stop your movement for a Gorkhaland. It will never be fulfilled. Concentrate on all round development of Darjeeling as it is the only solution to the issue."

Election

On 17 April, the Election Commission of India made an appeal for all registered voters to turn out for their respective electoral dates.

New reports indicated there was a 74.27% turnout in the first phase. South Dinajpur district recorded the highest turnout with 78.17%, followed by Cooch Behar with 77.10%, Malda with 75.10%, Jalpaiguri with 72.57%, North Dinajpur with 72.43% and Darjeeling with 71%.

References

1. Assembly Election Schedule 2011
2. "Buddha fights the big Mamata surge - The Times of India". indiatimes.com. 2011 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
3. "gazette123.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2007 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
4. "West Bengal Assembly Election 2011 Dates". www.westbengalelections2011.com. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
5. "ac_elec_schedule_2011.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). ceowestbengal.nic.in. 2011 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
6. "Forbes India - 2011 West Bengal State Elections' Impact on Land Reforms". business.in.com. 2011 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
7. "Bengal intellectuals urge Chidambaram to help disarm Harmad Vahini - Times Of India". articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2011 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
8. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-20/india/28625487_1_gorkhaland-separate-state-gjm
9. "Appeal16042011.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). eci.nic.in. 2011 . Retrieved 25 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
10. "West Bengal polls: 74% vote in Phase-I". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.

• State Assembly elections in India, 2011
• State Assembly elections in West Bengal