Mumbai, March 13: Howrah is one of West Bengal’s significant parliamentary constituencies. It covers most urban areas of Howrah district and is part of the Kolkata metropolitan region. The Howrah Lok Sabha constituency includes seven assembly segments: 169-Bally, 170-Howrah North, 171-Howrah Central, 172-Shibpur, 173-Howrah South, 174-Sankrail, and 175-Panchla. These segments focus on Howrah city and its surrounding industrial-urban areas.
Howrah is recognized as one of the key districts in West Bengal, with a total area of 1,467 square kilometers. According to the 2011 census, the district’s population is 4,850,029, making it one of the most densely populated districts in the state. The literacy rate stands at 83.31%, above the state average. The district comprises 14 development blocks, 157 villages, one municipal corporation (Howrah Municipal Corporation), and 26 police stations. Howrah district is highly urbanized and is the second smallest district after Kolkata.
Located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, Howrah is often referred to as Kolkata’s twin city. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Howrah serves as a crucial transport hub and gateway for Kolkata and the entire state of West Bengal. The city is home to Howrah Station, India’s oldest and busiest railway station, which is among the largest railway junctions in the country. The city boasts a heritage that dates back thousands of years, linked to the ancient Bengali empire of Bhurshut.
Historically, Howrah has a legacy of over 500 years. Venetian traveler Cesare Federici mentioned a place called ‘Buttor’ in his diary in 1578, which was a port for large ships. This is believed to be connected to the present-day Bator area. The Bengali poem ‘Mansamangol’ by Bipradas Pipilai from 1495 also references Bator. In 1713, the British East India Company sought permission from Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar to settle five villages (Salika, Harira, Kasundeh, Ramkrishnapur, and Batar) on the western bank of the Hooghly River. These villages now form significant parts of Howrah city.
In the 2024 elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) maintained its dominance in the Howrah Lok Sabha seat. TMC candidate Prasoon Banerjee secured 626,493 votes, defeating BJP’s Dr. Rathin Chakraborty, who received 457,051 votes, while CPI(M)’s Sabyasachi Chatterjee garnered 152,005 votes.
Prasoon Banerjee also won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, obtaining 576,711 votes against BJP’s Rantidev Sengupta, who received 473,016 votes. CPI(M)’s Sumitro Adhikari got 105,547 votes, while Congress’s Suvra Ghosh managed 32,107 votes.
In the 2014 elections, Banerjee won with 488,461 votes, defeating CPI(M)’s Shridip Bhattacharya, who received 291,505 votes. At that time, TMC secured 43.4%, CPI(M) 25.9%, and BJP 22.05%, with Congress trailing at 5.62%.
The Howrah seat holds industrial significance, featuring jute mills, engineering industries, ports, and railway facilities. However, challenges such as pollution, traffic congestion, and unemployment persist. Politically, it has been a stronghold for TMC, where Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains a robust presence.
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