West Bengal Assembly Election

The Indian National Congress emerged as the dominant party, winning 150 seats, which gave it a comfortable majority to form the government.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) became the main opposition with 28 seats, marking the early rise of the Left in Bengal politics.
Smaller parties like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Hindu Mahasabha, and Forward Bloc managed a few seats.
A significant number of Independents (47) also entered the Assembly, showing the fragmented nature of Bengal politics in the early years.

The Indian National Congress (INC) retained power with 152 seats, securing another comfortable majority.
The CPI made significant gains, winning 46 seats, strengthening its position as the principal opposition party.
The Praja Socialist Party (PSP) emerged as another important player with 21 seats.
Smaller parties like Forward Bloc (8 seats), Bharatiya Jana Sangh (5 seats), and Hindu Mahasabha (1 seat) had a limited presence.
19 Independents and smaller groups also found representation.

The Indian National Congress (INC) remained the ruling party with 144 seats, though its strength was reduced compared to 1957.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) rose sharply, winning 80 seats, becoming a powerful opposition force.
The Praja Socialist Party (PSP) declined to only 6 seats, losing much of its earlier influence.
The Forward Bloc (4 seats) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (3 seats) retained a small but notable presence.
A few Independents and smaller groups (13 seats) also entered the Assembly.

The Indian National Congress (INC), though still the single largest party with 127 seats, failed to secure a majority.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], contesting separately after the 1964 split, emerged as a major force with 43 seats.
The Communist Party of India (CPI), now smaller, managed 16 seats.
A new regional force, the Bangla Congress, won 34 seats and played a crucial role in forming the government.
The United Front coalition (CPI(M), Bangla Congress, CPI, Forward Bloc, SSP, and others) together had enough numbers to form the first non-Congress government in West Bengal under Ajoy Mukherjee (Bangla Congress) as Chief Minister, with Jyoti Basu (CPI(M)) as Deputy CM.
This government, however, was unstable and short-lived, but it marked the beginning of Left-led coalitions in Bengal politics.

The CPI(M) emerged as the largest party with 80 seats, strengthening its leadership role in Left politics.
The Indian National Congress (INC) suffered a major decline, securing only 55 seats.
The Bangla Congress (33) and CPI (30) together with CPI(M) and other Left partners formed a stronger United Front coalition.
Left allies like Forward Bloc (21), RSP (12), and SSP (7) also increased their strength.
The United Front government was formed again under Ajoy Mukherjee (Bangla Congress) as Chief Minister, with Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) as Deputy CM.
However, due to internal conflicts and central interventions, this government too was unstable and collapsed within two years.

The Indian National Congress (INC), riding on Indira Gandhi’s popularity and the “Garibi Hatao” (Remove Poverty) slogan, made a massive comeback, winning 216 seats and regaining absolute control in Bengal.
The CPI(M) put up a strong fight with 113 seats, showing that Left strength was still significant, even though it was defeated.
The CPI (13 seats) and Bangla Congress (3 seats) became marginal players.
The Forward Bloc managed just 1 seat, while Independents/others got 7.
Congress formed the government under Siddhartha Shankar Ray (though he formally became CM in 1972 after the next election).

The Indian National Congress (INC) under Siddhartha Shankar Ray won a landslide victory with 216 seats, forming the government.
The election, however, was marred by heavy violence, booth capturing, and charges of mass rigging, leading to serious political unrest.
The CPI(M), despite being the main Left force, was reduced to just 25 seats, a major setback.
The CPI (24) and Bangla Congress (21) retained some influence but were not strong enough to challenge Congress.
Smaller Left parties like Forward Bloc (3) and RSP (1) barely survived.
Because of the alleged rigging and repression, most Left parties later boycotted the Assembly and intensified movements outside the legislature.

The Left Front, a coalition led by CPI(M) along with CPI, Forward Bloc, RSP, and others, achieved a historic landslide, winning 231 out of 294 seats.
Within the coalition, the CPI(M) alone secured 178 seats, gaining absolute majority by itself.
The Indian National Congress (INC) was reduced to 57 seats, a dramatic fall after its dominance in 1972.
The Janata Party, which was strong nationally after defeating Indira Gandhi in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, managed 29 seats in Bengal.
Smaller Left allies — Forward Bloc (25), RSP (12), CPI (7), and MFB (2) — consolidated under the Left Front banner.
The Left Front government was formed with Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) as Chief Minister, beginning the longest-serving democratically elected Communist government in the world.

The Left Front retained power with a decisive victory, securing a total of 222 seats.
The CPI(M) remained dominant with 174 seats, slightly lower than 1977 but still an absolute majority on its own.
The Left allies — Forward Bloc (20), RSP (19), CPI (7), and MFB (2) — added further strength.
The Indian National Congress (INC) improved compared to 1977, winning 153 seats, but still fell short of challenging the Left Front’s dominance.
Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) was re-elected as Chief Minister, continuing the Left Front’s rule.

The Left Front achieved a sweeping victory, winning 237 out of 294 seats, a record high.
The CPI(M) alone won 187 seats, its best-ever performance in Bengal Assembly history.
Left Front allies — Forward Bloc (20), RSP (19), CPI (9), and MFB (2) — all maintained steady strength.
The Indian National Congress (INC) collapsed to just 40 seats, a massive decline compared to 1982.
Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) became Chief Minister for the third consecutive term, strengthening his reputation as one of India’s longest-serving leaders.

The Left Front retained a strong majority, winning 221 seats overall.
The CPI(M) remained the largest party with 182 seats, still far ahead of the opposition.
Allies — CPI (13), Forward Bloc (14), RSP (11), and MFB (1) — contributed to the Front’s dominance.
The Indian National Congress (INC) marginally improved to 43 seats, but it was still too weak to challenge the Left.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) entered the Assembly with 3 seats — its first real presence in West Bengal politics.
Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) was re-elected as Chief Minister for the fourth consecutive term.

The Left Front again won comfortably, with a total of 195 seats.
The CPI(M) saw a decline to 150 seats (down from 182 in 1991), but remained far ahead of rivals.
Left allies performed steadily — Forward Bloc (21), RSP (14), CPI (8), and MFB (2).
The Indian National Congress (INC) improved to 82 seats, becoming a stronger opposition.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) increased its presence, winning 11 seats, showing its gradual rise in Bengal politics.
Jyoti Basu (CPI-M) was re-elected as Chief Minister for the fifth consecutive term.

The Left Front retained power once again, winning 194 seats in total.
The CPI(M) remained the backbone with 143 seats, while its allies Forward Bloc (25), RSP (17), CPI (7), and MFB (2) supported the majority.
The new challenger, Trinamool Congress (TMC), made a big entry with 60 seats, emerging as the main opposition for the first time.
The INC further declined to 26 seats, losing ground to TMC.
The BJP, which had 11 seats in 1996, failed to win a single seat in 2001.
Jyoti Basu stepped down in 2000 due to age and ill health; hence Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (CPI-M) led the Left Front in 2001 and became Chief Minister after the victory.

The Left Front scored a massive victory, winning 230 out of 294 seats, its highest tally since 1987.
The CPI(M) alone captured 176 seats, proving its absolute dominance.
Left allies also did well — Forward Bloc (23), RSP (20), CPI (9), and MFB (2).
The INC was reduced to 21 seats, continuing its decline in Bengal.
The TMC, contesting separately without Congress, won only 30 seats, a setback compared to 2001.
The BJP again failed to win any seat.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (CPI-M) was re-elected as Chief Minister with a stronger mandate.

he TMC-Congress alliance achieved a landslide, winning 226 seats combined.
TMC alone secured 184 seats, a dramatic rise from 30 in 2006.
Congress added 42 seats, supporting Mamata’s victory.
The Left Front collapsed after 34 years in power:
CPI(M) dropped to 40 seats (down from 176 in 2006).
Allies like Forward Bloc (11), RSP (7), and CPI (2) were nearly wiped out.
The BJP failed to win a single seat.
Mamata Banerjee (TMC) became the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal, ending the Left’s historic reign.

The TMC won a landslide majority, securing 211 seats on its own, the best performance by any party in Bengal since 1972.
The Congress won 44 seats, mainly in Malda and Murshidabad, becoming the main opposition (despite its earlier decline).
The Left Front collapsed to just 32 seats (CPI-M 26, Forward Bloc 2, RSP 3, CPI 1), losing its position as the main opposition for the first time in decades.
The BJP made small gains, winning 3 seats (up from 0 in 2011).
Mamata Banerjee (TMC) was sworn in again as Chief Minister for her second term.

The TMC secured a thumping majority with 213 seats, almost matching its 2016 performance, despite a strong BJP campaign.
The BJP rose dramatically from 3 seats in 2016 to 77 seats, becoming the main opposition for the first time in Bengal.
The INC and Left Front were wiped out completely, failing to win even a single seat — a historic low for both.
The Independents & smaller parties managed 4 seats.
Mamata Banerjee (TMC) was sworn in for a third consecutive term as Chief Minister, cementing her position as the central figure in Bengal politics.