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West Bengal state general election, 2011

← 2006 April 18, 2011 (2011-04-18) - May 10, 2011 (2011-05-10) 2016 →
294 seats
File:MamataBanerjeePBI-5-cropped.jpg Leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Mamata Banerjee Party CPI(M) AITC Alliance LF UPA Leader since 6 November 2000 1 January 1998 Leader's seat Jadavpur Did not stand Last election 233 seats, 79.2% 30 seats, 10.2% Current seats 233 30 Seats needed ≥196 (37) ≥196 (166)
Map of West Bengal showing election phases
Incumbent Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee CPI(M)

The West Bengal state general election, 2011 is occurring from April 18, 2011 to May 10, 2011, in six phases for all the 294 seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in the state of West Bengal in India. The CPI (M)-led Left Front won the previous election with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee serving as Chief Minister.

Background

This will be the first general election for the Vidhan Sabha, following the highly controversial political agitation and violence in Nandigram and the Tata Nano Singur controversy led by opposition party-chief Mamata Banerjee.

The Left Front has served West Bengal from 1977 and ironically, it follows the defeat of the Left Front 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

The CEC of India, S. Y. Quraishi announced that polling in West Bengal will be spread over six phases between April 18, 2011 and May 10, 2011.

	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.

New reports reported 74.27% % turnout in this phase. South Dinajpur district recorded the highest polling percentage of 78.17, followed by Cooch Behar (77.10), Malda (75.10), Jalpaiguri (72.57), North Dinajpur (72.43) and Darjeeling (71).

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.

Brisk polling was recorded on Saturday in the second phase of elections in 50 constituencies spread over three districts of West Bengal, with a voter turnout of 85.32 per cent.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fielded the highest number of candidates, 50, followed by the CPI (M), 31. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded 29 candidates, the Bahujan Samaj Party (27) and the Congress (21). Prominent candidates, whose fate would be decided in this phase, include Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee from Nalhati, Panchayat, Minister and CPI (M) leader Anisur Rehman, former High Court judge Nure Alam Chowdhury contesting on Trinamool Congress ticket from Murarai and Rukbanur Rehman, brother of computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rehman from the Chapra constituency.

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. Around seventy seven per cent voting was recorded in the third phase of West Bengal assembly polls in 75 seats covering Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas districts on Wednesday. Among the important political figures whose fates were sealed in ballots include Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, Housing Minister Gautam Deb, Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu, Land Revenue Minister Abdur Rejjak Mollah, Sports Minister Kanti Ganguli, FICCI secretary general Amit Mitra, Leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee and Kolkata Mayor Shovan Chatterjee.

The CPI-M was contesting in 61 constituencies, the CPI three, the Trinamool 70, the Congress five, Forward Bloc seven, the BJP 75, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) three and the BSP 51 constituencies.

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)

in 4th phase the poll percent is 87%.Voter turnout in East Midnapore was 89.40%

Prominent candidates, whose fate were sealed in the ballots, include Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and Higher Education Minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury, Food Processing Minister Mohanta Chatterjee, Minister of State for Information and Culture Soumendranath Bera, Technical Education Minister Chakradhar Maikap, Agriculture minister Naren Dey and Fire Services Minister Pratim Chatterjee.

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, Ranibandh (ST), Raipur (ST) and Taldangra.

• See also - List of constituencies of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha with links to individual pages.

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.

Election

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

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. ^ "West Bengal polls: 74% vote in Phase-I". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
7. "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)
8. "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)
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)

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