In 2021, TMC had bagged 20 seats in Murshidabad while the BJP won just two.
Berhampore: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, which saw a record 7.48 lakh names deleted, affected Trinamool Congress’ performance in the just‑concluded West Bengal assembly elections, results of which were counted on Monday.
In 2021, TMC had bagged 20 seats in Murshidabad while the BJP won just two. This time, TMC was confined to nine seats. A four‑time MLA since 2006 and district TMC president Apurbo Sarkar was defeated by newcomer Gargi Das Ghosh, who wrested the prestigious seat. The BJP also gained in violence‑prone Beldanga and Jangipur, making inroads into scheduled caste and tribe‑dominated constituencies such as Nabagram, Burdwan and Khargram, and placed second in many seats.
Aam Janata Unnain Party (AJUP) founder president Humayun Kabir benefited as Muslims rallied behind him. He won Rejinagar by 58,876 votes and Nowda by 27,943, with the BJP relegated to second place. Congress working committee member and veteran leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was defeated, as Hindu votes en masse went to the BJP in Berhampore, Jangipur and Beldanga. Congress, however, managed to retain Farakka, where nominee Motab Seikh’s name had initially been deleted from the rolls but was restored following a tribunal judgment. Congress also won Raninagar, where newcomer Zulfiqar Ali scraped through by 4,000 votes.
The CPI(M) opened its account in Domkal, defeating former IPS officer Humayun Kabir by 16,232 votes. Sources said 7,48,959 voter names were deleted during SIR scrutiny in Murshidabad alone.
In Malda district, Congress failed to win a single seat. The BJP bagged six, while TMC also won six, including Mothabari, which was hit by SIR‑related violence.
