Kolkata, March 14: The Diamond Harbour Assembly seat in West Bengal is a fascinating blend of history, geography, and politics. Located in the South 24 Parganas district, it is one of seven assembly constituencies under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat and part of the state’s total of 294 assembly seats. With the upcoming assembly elections, this constituency is once again at the center of political discussions, as the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has maintained dominance here for the past decade, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempts to challenge this status quo.
Diamond Harbour is significant not only politically but also historically and geographically. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, this area is where the river meets the Bay of Bengal. This strategic location made it an important port during British rule. The region was originally known as Hajipur, a name changed by the British to Diamond Harbour. Archaeological findings suggest signs of human settlement here date back nearly two thousand years. Historically, it was also considered a base for Portuguese pirates. Today, remnants of an old fort and a lighthouse along the river testify to its rich history.
The Diamond Harbour Assembly seat was established in 1951. It encompasses the Diamond Harbour Municipality, seven gram panchayats from the Diamond Harbour-1 block, and six gram panchayats from the Diamond Harbour-2 Community Development block. This constituency is predominantly rural, with only about 21 percent of voters residing in urban areas, while a large population lives in villages. Since 1952, this seat has participated in all assembly elections, witnessing various political parties dominate at different times.
Initially, the Praja Socialist Party held sway here, winning the first two elections in 1952. The Indian National Congress later secured victories, breaking the opposition’s winning streak several times. From the 1970s onward, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) dominated for an extended period, winning multiple elections from 1977 to 1991, totaling nine victories. However, the political landscape shifted in 2011, marking the rise of the Trinamool Congress.
In 2011, Trinamool Congress candidate Deepak Kumar Halder defeated CPI(M) to win the seat. He secured victory again in 2016. Before the 2021 elections, Halder joined the BJP and contested as their candidate but faced defeat. The TMC won that election.
Abhishek Banerjee is a significant figure in Diamond Harbour’s politics. He has represented the area in the Lok Sabha since 2014, being elected three times. As the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he is among the party’s key national leaders. His presence has strengthened the TMC’s organizational structure in the region.
In recent years, there has been a notable shift in voting patterns. The BJP’s vote share, which was below 7 percent, rose to 36.10 percent in 2019 and 36.16 percent in 2021. However, it dropped to 20.25 percent in 2024. Voter turnout in Diamond Harbour is consistently high, with 88.89 percent in the 2016 assembly elections, 85.37 percent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 88.40 percent in the 2021 assembly elections, and 80.42 percent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Analyzing the election results over the past decade, the Trinamool Congress appears to be in a strong position. However, the BJP has established itself as a significant opposition force in the region.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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