Stalin & Mamata: Will They Fall In By-Poll Trap?

The biggest shocker of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal elections are not just the defeat of DMK and TMC. MK Stalin and Mamata Banarjee losing from their own seats too.

But there is another opportunity for Former Chief Ministers who lost as MLAs.

In Tamil Nadu, Vijay won in two constituencies. Vijay is required to resign from one of these seats, necessitating a by-election.

If known candidate contests that seat on behalf of the TVK, and Stalin runs as the DMK candidate and defeats them, Stalin would secure the status of Leader of the Opposition.

Similarly, in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari along with a pro-BJP Muslim leader also won in two constituencies.

Consequently, if either of them resigns from one of their seats, by-elections will be held in two constituencies.

This presents an opportunity for Mamata Banerjee to contest one of these seats and secure the status of Leader of the Principal Opposition.

Both these scenarios look as opportunities on paper but in fact, they are improbable.

It is suicidal for a top leader to contest a by-election when there is another party that just came to power.

It is very unlikely for the voters to chose other candidate than the Ruling Party’s. If Stalin or Mamata contests the by-election and lose, things will become even worse.

Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, anyways, won. He will be leading the party in the Opposition.

If Trisha contests from Trichy (East) as speculated, it will be uncomfortable for a tall leader like Stalin to take on her. A loss will make things even awkward.

Mamata, however, will have a tough time with no support like that.

Vijay contested from Trichy (East) and Perambur, and won both. Reports are that he will resign for Trichy (East) and keep Perambur.