KOLKATA, Mar 28: As West Bengal gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, past voting patterns indicate a clear shift from close contests to more decisive victories. Data from the 2016 and 2021 elections suggest that voters are increasingly delivering stronger mandates, reducing the number of tightly fought seats.In 2016, nearly 74 per cent of constituencies—219 out of 294—were decided by margins between 5,000 and 25,000 votes. Only about 33 per cent of seats recorded victory margins exceeding 25,000 votes. However, this trend changed significantly in 2021, when 132 seats, or 44 per cent, were won by margins above 25,000 votes, reflecting a growing preference for clear outcomes.The shift has largely benefited the All India Trinamool Congress, which secured 118 seats with margins above 25,000 votes in 2021. In comparison, the Bharatiya Janata Party won only 13 seats in this category, though it showed gains in constituencies with smaller margins.Despite the broader trend, a handful of seats remained closely contested. Only seven constituencies in 2021 were decided by margins below 1,000 votes, highlighting that tight races still persist in limited pockets.
With polling scheduled for April 23 and 29 across 294 constituencies, over seven crore voters are expected to participate. The upcoming election will determine whether the trend of decisive mandates continues or if closer contests make a comeback.
