Kolkata, March 14: Preparations for the assembly elections in West Bengal are in full swing. The Election Commission and various political parties are actively working to rally public support. The Election Commission has already conducted a review of the situation in West Bengal. Let’s delve into the dynamics of the seven assembly seats under the Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency in the South 24 Parganas district.
Currently, Mathurapur is a stronghold for the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party has a significant influence across all seven assembly seats. The region is predominantly inhabited by fishing communities, Dalits, and rural voters. Although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) improved its performance in the 2019 and 2024 elections, it still trails far behind the TMC. The influence of the Left Front CPI(M) and Congress has diminished considerably.
The Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency comprises the assembly seats of Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Kulpi, Raidadighi, Mandirbazar (reserved), and Magrahat West. Currently, all these seats are held by the All India Trinamool Congress. In the last election, the BJP secured the second position in several constituencies.
Patharpratima is considered a TMC bastion, with Samir Kumar Jana winning the seat for the past three assembly elections.
Kakdwip is also a stronghold for the TMC, where Mantu Ram Pakhira has consistently won for the last three elections. In 2021, he defeated the BJP candidate by nearly 25,000 votes.
The Sagar assembly seat, located in the South 24 Parganas district, is one of the state’s significant constituencies. Since the 2011 assembly elections, Bankim Chandra Hajara of the TMC has been winning this seat. In the last election, he defeated BJP’s Bikas Kamila by approximately 30,000 votes, having previously won against CPI(M) candidates in 2011 and 2016.
Raidadighi falls within the Sundarbans region, known for its rivers, islands, marshlands, and fishing activities. According to the 2021 assembly data, it had around 260,000 voters. The area is predominantly inhabited by fishermen, Dalits, Hindus, and a small Muslim population. Fishing, agriculture, boat transport, and tourism (Sundarbans) are the main sources of income. The TMC candidate has won this seat for three consecutive terms, with Alok Janladata defeating the BJP in 2021. Prior to that, Debashree Roy of the TMC held the seat.
Mandirbazar is a reserved constituency for Scheduled Castes, established in 1977. It includes several gram panchayats and the entire Mandirbazar Community Development Block. Over the years, this seat has seen significant political shifts. Initially dominated by Left parties, the TMC has held sway here since 2021, with Joydeb Halder winning three consecutive terms, defeating the BJP’s Sanchay Kumar Sarkar last time.
Magrahat West is a general category assembly seat located in the South 24 Parganas district. Established in 1951, it was a two-seat constituency during the first two elections in 1952 and 1957, both of which were won by the Congress party. Since the 1962 elections, it has been divided into Magrahat East and Magrahat West constituencies.
In the subsequent 15 elections, the CPI(M) has secured six victories, while the Congress and its splinter parties, Bangla Congress and TMC, have each won three times. Since 2011, the TMC has consistently won this seat, with Ghayasuddin Molla winning on the TMC ticket for the last three elections. In 2024, there were 238,944 registered voters in Magrahat West, up from 229,437 in 2021, 214,381 in 2019, 201,242 in 2016, and 169,168 in 2011.
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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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