Kolkata North seeks change, South stays steady with Didi

Kolkata North seeks change, South stays steady with Didi

FPJ BureauUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 08:03 PM IST
article-image
(PTI Photo) |

Kolkata: With one day to go for the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the voters of Kolkata North and Kolkata South are as different on their polling preferences as they are on cultural notes. While the North Kolkatan voters are quite clear that they want a change in their parliamentary representative this time, the South Kolkatans express their full faith in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.

Though TMC topped the table in the 2014 general elections from Kolkata North with 35 per cent votes, yet their voting percentage had fallen by 17 per cent as they had polled record 52 per cent votes in the 2009 elections.

However, in the 2009 general elections, BJP polled only 4 per cent of the votes which skyrocketed to 26 per cent in the 2014 elections. This year, BJP candidate Rahul Sinha is locking horns with two-time MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay in the Kolkata north constituency.

Residents in North Kolkata say that in the last five years they have only seen Sudip Bandyopadhyay on TV and in high profile events. He was unavailable most of the time even when people from the constituency went to the party office with their problems.

“We don’t want someone who comes door-to-door begging for the votes but disappears once he wins,” said Rathindranath Sen, a retired professor. “He is in power for the last 10 years and his cadres are still asking us to vote for him for the same reasons for which we voted him to power in 2009,” said Subhendu Pal, an entrepreneur.

The southern part of the city has always been a stronghold of TMC, with areas like Bhowanipore and Kalighat being the backyard of the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. It has been like the home turf of the party.  In the 2014 elections, TMC topped the table with 36 per cent votes whereas BJP finished second with 25 per cent votes. This time, BJP has fielded Chandra Kumar Bose against TMC’s Mala Roy.

Roy is the first-ever woman Kolkata Municial Corporation (KMC) KMC chairperson from TMC, who has been the councilor of the since 1995. Though she will be fielding for a Loksabha seat for the first time, yet her political expertise and stronghold among the voters of the southern part of the city will keep her in the lead.

“Mala Roy has been a loyal servant of the people and we are confident on her,” said Anamika Bose, a businesswoman and resident of Kolkatha South constituency. “Our constituency is the home of Didi, her candidates can never be defeated on this turf, as the people have full faith on her administration,” said Arun Dasgupta, an advocate.

RECENT STORIES

Bihar Lok Sabha Election 2024: Battle Lines Drawn As Candidates From 4 Consitutunces Set To Lock...

Bihar Lok Sabha Election 2024: Battle Lines Drawn As Candidates From 4 Consitutunces Set To Lock...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

'To Browbeat And Bully Others Is Vintage Congress Culture': PM Modi On Lawyers' Letter To CJI

'To Browbeat And Bully Others Is Vintage Congress Culture': PM Modi On Lawyers' Letter To CJI

Gujarat: Real Estate Developer Fights Off Group Of Attackers In Ahmedabad (Viral Video)

Gujarat: Real Estate Developer Fights Off Group Of Attackers In Ahmedabad (Viral Video)

Mansukh Mandaviya Utilises Artificial Intelligence To Streamline Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Campaign

Mansukh Mandaviya Utilises Artificial Intelligence To Streamline Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Campaign