Balurghat emerges as crucial battleground in Bengal’s 2024 Lok Sabha polls
BALURGHAT: Amidst West Bengal’s fervent 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Balurghat energes as a focal point. Scheduled for April 26, the polling for the Balurghat parliamentary constituency has drawn attention as a battleground of ideologies and ambitions.
In Balurghat’s electoral arena, two heavyweight contenders vie for supremacy. Representing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is the seasoned politician and State Consumer Protection Minister, Biplab Mitra. Opposing him is the incumbent Member of Parliament and State BJP President, Sukanta Majumdar, who clinched victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
In the previous electoral showdown, Majumdar secured triumph over his closest rival, TMC’s Arpita Ghosh, by a formidable margin of 33,293 votes. However, with the TMC fielding a new candidate and the Left Front entering the fray with RSP nominee Jaydeb Siddhanta, the dynamics of the electoral contest have evolved.
Analysts foresee the battle revolving primarily around the clash between Biplab Mitra and Sukanta Majumdar. Both candidates have embarked on extensive campaigning endeavours well in advance of the election announcement, aiming to influence the electorate’s sentiments.
Comprising seven Assembly constituencies, Balurghat’s electoral landscape spans both South and North Dinajpur districts. Among these, Balurghat, Gangarampur, Tapan, Harirampur, Kumarganj, and Kushmandi belong to the South Dinajpur district, while the Itahar Assembly constituency falls under North Dinajpur.
In the previous Lok Sabha polls, Majumdar secured 45 per cent of the total votes, amounting to 5,39,317 votes, while Ghosh garnered 42.2 per cent, totalling 5,06,024 votes. The Left Front candidate lagged significantly behind with a mere 6.1 per cent of the total votes.
Noteworthy are the results of the 2021 Assembly elections, where TMC’s vote share surged to 47.2 per cent, marking a 4.2 per cent increase, while the BJP secured 43 per cent of the votes. The outcome underscores TMC’s strengthened position and the potential challenge it poses to Majumdar’s re-election bid.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, TMC emerged victorious in Kushmandi, Kumarganj, and Harirampur Assembly constituencies, while BJP secured victory in Balurghat, Tapan, and Gangarampur Assembly constituencies. The margin of victory was narrow in Tapan and Gangarampur for the BJP, whereas TMC secured significant margins in Kumarganj and Harirampur. Key issues dominating the electoral discourse include the establishment of agricultural industries, infrastructural development, employment generation, and overall district progress.
Biplab Mitra has criticized the incumbent MP, emphasizing missed opportunities for development and attributing them to the Central government's alleged neglect. “ Regarding Sukanta Majumdar's promises about improving railway connectivity, Mitra criticized, "Current MP has canceled the Gaur-link Express from Balurghat to Kolkata via Malda, and introduced another train from Sealdah to Balurghat. Additionally, he extended the Farakka Express from Malda to Balurghat, a route that extends to Bhatinda via Delhi, after the election announcement. However, this train is not convenient for Balurghat residents, taking around 40-42 hours to reach Delhi.”
In contrast, Sukanta Majumdar has showcased his achievements, particularly in enhancing railway connectivity and facilitating tourism development. “Balurghat station has been included in the Amrit Bharat Station project. Funds have been allocated by the Archaeological Survey of India for tourism development at the Bangarh historical site” stated Majumdar.
Left Front candidate Jaydeb Siddhanta has positioned himself as an alternative, critiquing both the Central and State governments for their purported failures. “ The Central government has failed to bring about any development in the country. The skyrocketing price of essential commodities, unemployment has emerged as a major crisis in the country. The State government has also fallen short with large scale corruption being unearthed. The only alternative is the Left Front."
As Balurghat gears up for the crucial showdown on April 26, the electorate faces a pivotal decision.
