BJP goes all out to retain its only seat in Bengal polls

KOLKATA: Basirhat (south), the constituency located at the Indo-Bangla border, some 80 km from the city, has seen a paradigm shift in electorates' preferences -- from Left to Right, a development that has stunned political pundits. What’s more, this shift towards saffron took place after 38 long years, during the 2014 by-polls.
This constituency, with 39% minority population, and around 40% Hindu refugees, will go to polls on April 25, and no party can afford to take it easy here. In fact, the battle lines are clearly drawn between the ruling Trinamool and BJP in this border town which has often made news because of its communal flare-ups.

BJP has a lot at stake in Basirhat, and is pinning its hopes on its lone MLA in the outgoing Legislative Assembly Shamik Bhattacharya. Trinamool Congress has fielded Dipendu Biswas from here, a noted footballer from the past. The two had squared off in 2014, where Bhattacharya came on top with just 1600-odd votes.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the importance of this seat, and was quick to announce citizenship for Hindu refugees in the region. Clearly, the decision was taken keeping the Bengal and Assam elections in mind. Both states have maximum number of Hindu refugees settling in bordering areas.

Since September last year, Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh have in several public meetings maintained that the Centre is committed to the cause of granting citizenship to those who left Bangladesh due to religious persecution.

Modi, in fact, pitched for Bhattacharya when he said that he is the only MLA from Bengal who had been running around in Delhi, trying to bring development projects for Basirhat.

“The person whom you elected 17 months ago left no stone unturned to bring filtered drinking water here. You had an MLA for the last 38 years. There were three railway ministers from your state. And now, you have an MP of the ruling Trinamool. But did you get a rail track in past four decades? After you elected Shamik, the track laying work started. I promise to bring development here,” Modi had told a gathering in Basirhat.

Bhattacharya said that he could convince the minority population in Basirhat that BJP is not into vote bank politics, and is only concerned about development. “Modiji's rally has witnessed at least 30% minority population and they were women voters. This is an amazing response. Moreover, we could control the main menace of cattle smuggling.”

TMC candidate Biswas too admits that the fight is between BJP and TMC, and the CPIM-Congress alliance is restricted only to a few pockets.

“We will get the seat this time and our only election issue is development. After I lost the by-poll here in 2014, our party won a panchayat samity and two municipalities elections. So, this time Basirhat will see a new colour – green," said Biswas.