Despite significant setbacks for the TMC since their landslide Lok Sabha victory this year, most notably because of the R G Kar case and protests, party leaders still seem confident of a victory in the by-polls to be held on November 13.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) Tuesday announced these by-polls for Sitai (SC), Madarihat (ST), Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra as their MLAs contested and won seats in the Lok Sabha this year.

Continuous protests by junior doctors for the last two months compelled the TMC government to replace the Kolkata police commissioner, Director of Medical Education, and Director of Health Service, amidst mounting allegations of corruption and a lack of cooperation with doctors and protestors.

However, a senior TMC leader said, “It’s true our image was tarnished. But that doesn’t mean our election machinery is weakened. That was intact and this movement has no impact in the village areas of West Bengal… it is very much an urban-based movement. That only affects the Naihati votebank. Apart from that, our vote machinery remained intact.

In bypolls, ruling parties always get an advantage. So, we are expecting not only a win in these six seats, but a win with thumping margins.”

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “TMC will win all six seats and CPIM will get the third position in every seat. I am challenging CPIM and their senior doctors who are provoking junior doctors for fasting unto death and roaming around… if they have courage, one of them should be made a candidate and we will see how many votes they get.”

Meanwhile, in response to that, CPIM leader Shatarup Ghosh said, “The party will decide who will be the candidate. First… Kunal Ghosh should appear as a candidate, at least in the panchayat. Second — our appeal to the people of West Bengal — even if the corruption of the TMC can be tolerated, let them judge if this arrogance of the TMC can be tolerated.”

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said, “Where people will be able to vote fearlessly, they will vote against the TMC. Kunal Ghosh is a wise person. He realised that his future is as a political commentator and he is practicing it.”

Notably, while the TMC maintained their dominance in the Lok Sabha elections this year, the BJP was ahead of them in two of these constituencies: Madarihat and Medinipur by 9,000 and 11,000 votes respectively. On the other hand, the TMC was ahead in Sitai (29,000), Naihati (15,000), Taldangra (8,000), and Haroa (1,10,000).