TMC MP Saugata Roy admitted that local-level corruption and coercion played a decisive role in shaping voter sentiment against the ruling party.
Speaking after the results, Roy said, “There was extortion at the local level and local dadas created a wrong atmosphere. There has been huge anti-incumbency which we could not realise.”
Roy specifically pointed to the role of local strongmen, often referred to as “dadas,” whose alleged dominance and coercive tactics contributed to widespread dissatisfaction.
He admitted that the scale of anti-incumbency sentiment was severely underestimated by the party, suggesting a disconnect between leadership perception and ground realities.
This admission is significant, as it comes in the immediate aftermath of a historic electoral setback for the party led by Mamata Banerjee.
Another key factor highlighted by Saugata Roy was the consolidation of Hindu votes against the TMC.
“There has been consolidation of the Hindu vote. We failed to understand all this,” he said, acknowledging that shifting voter alignments were not adequately assessed during the campaign.
This observation aligns with broader electoral trends indicating polarisation and strategic voting patterns in the state.
While accepting internal failures, Roy maintained that the polling process itself was largely peaceful.
He noted, however, that there were instances of alleged high-handedness by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), though he clarified that these did not significantly disrupt the overall voting process.
“Though there were certain high-handed actions by CAPF, the vote was peaceful,” he said.
When asked about discussions with party supremo Mamata Banerjee regarding the defeat, Roy said he had not yet spoken to her.
“I have not spoken with Mamata. Let’s see,” he added, indicating that internal deliberations within the party may still be underway.
According to the Election Commission of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a sweeping victory, winning 206 out of 294 Assembly seats.
In contrast, the TMC managed to secure 80 seats, marking a sharp decline from its dominant performance in the 2021 Assembly elections, when it had won 213 seats with a strong vote share.
Other parties, including Congress and smaller regional outfits, secured minimal representation, while the CPI(M) was reduced to just one seat.
Saugata Roy’s remarks are being seen as one of the most direct acknowledgements from within the TMC about the reasons behind its electoral decline.
His statements point toward systemic issues at the grassroots level, leadership miscalculations, and evolving voter dynamics, all of which appear to have contributed to the party’s downfall in this election cycle.
