## West Bengal Elections 2026: Key Losers – Summary of The Hindu Article
**2024 Lok Sabha Election Performance:**
* **BJP:** Lost significant ground, decreasing vote share from 38.6% in 2019 to 30.7%. Lost 7 seats compared to 2019, winning 12 seats. Experienced losses across key regions including North Bengal, Jangalmahal, and parts of South Bengal.
* **TMC:** Increased vote share from 43.69% in 2019 to 45.6%. Gained 5 seats, winning 29 seats. Demonstrated strength in South Bengal and managed to hold ground despite BJP’s initial gains in 2019.
* **Congress & Left:** Combined vote share was 11.1%, a slight increase from 2019. Failed to win any seats. Performance remained weak despite alliance.
* **ISF:** Received 5.6% vote share, winning one seat.
**Assembly Election 2021 Context:**
* **BJP:** Increased seat count from 3 to 73, significantly improving its performance but falling short of majority.
* **TMC:** Won 213 seats, securing a third consecutive term despite a strong challenge.
* **Left-Congress Alliance:** Won 77 seats, a decline from previous performances.
* **ISF:** Won one seat as part of the Left-Congress-ISF alliance.
**Key Individual Losses (2021 Assembly):**
* **BJP:** Several prominent leaders lost, including Swadhin Majumdar (Maniktala), Shamik Bhattacharya (Chowrasta), and Debasree Chaudhuri (Raiganj).
* **TMC:** Some ministers and established leaders faced defeat, including Rajib Banerjee (Domjur) who defected to the BJP.
* **Left-Congress-ISF:** Notable losses included Left Front Chairman Biman Banerjee (Jadavpur).
**Post-Election Analysis (2021 & 2024):**
* **BJP’s Setback:** The 2024 Lok Sabha results indicate a reversal of the gains made by the BJP in the 2021 Assembly elections. The party’s inability to consolidate its position in North Bengal and Jangalmahal was a significant factor.
* **TMC’s Resilience:** Mamata Banerjee’s TMC demonstrated resilience, maintaining its core support base and increasing its vote share in the Lok Sabha elections.
* **Opposition Weakness:** The Congress-Left alliance continued to struggle, failing to make a significant impact in either the 2021 Assembly or the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
* **ISF’s Limited Impact:** The ISF’s influence remained localized, with limited ability to expand its reach beyond its core support base.
