Kolkata, March 12 (IANS). Malda South Lok Sabha constituency, which has 7 assembly seats, has become important for the upcoming assembly elections. This area was considered the stronghold of Congress, but in the last assembly elections, Congress suffered a complete defeat here, which has opened opportunities for TMC and BJP. This Lok Sabha constituency, which came into existence in 2009, has now become the center of political turmoil, where there is a possibility of a fierce contest between Trinamool Congress, Congress and BJP.
The electoral history of the assembly constituencies of this region, which includes Manikchak, English Bazar, Mothabari, Sujapur, Baishnabnagar, Farakka and Samserganj, tells a new story every time. While on one hand Trinamool Congress has increased its dominance, on the other hand BJP has registered its presence in English Bazar seat. While Congress’s position deteriorated in the 2021 elections, Trinamool won many seats.
TMC’s Sabitri Mitra is currently the MLA from Manikchak assembly constituency. Assembly elections have been held 16 times so far on Manikchak assembly seat, which came into existence in 1951. The seat disappeared from the electoral map in 1957, but returned in 1962. Congress won here 9 times, CPI(M) 4 times, Trinamool Congress 2 times and Swatantra Party won once in 1967. Trinamool Congress won here in 2021 and retained this seat.
BJP’s Srirupa Mitra Choudhary is currently the MLA from English Bazar Assembly, who led the party to victory here for the first time. A total of 17 elections have been held in the English Bazar assembly constituency so far, including the 2013 by-election. This seat is known as the stronghold of Congress and CPI. Congress won here 6 times, while CPI won 7 consecutive times from 1969 to 1997. Apart from this, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, BJP and an independent candidate have also won here, but each party got success here only once.
In the three assembly elections so far, Mothabari gave opportunity to Sabina Yasmin, who contested from different parties. In 2021, he won on Trinamool Congress ticket. Trinamool Congress’s rise from this region can only be linked to Sabina Yasmin, who is considered to be the reason for the region’s strong presence in the Lok Sabha.
So far 18 assembly elections have been held on Sujapur assembly seat, which came into existence in 1957. This also includes two by-elections in 2009. Congress won this seat 16 consecutive times. In the first election of 1957, independent candidate Manoranjan Mishra had won. Trinamool Congress won here for the first time in the 2021 elections. This change in Sujapur seat shows the influence of Trinamool Congress.
Three assembly elections have been held in Baishnabnagar assembly constituency since 2011 and each time a different party won. In 2011, Ishaq Khan Choudhary of Congress won, while in 2016, Swadhin Kumar Sarkar of BJP defeated Azizul Haq of Congress. In 2021, Trinamool Congress succeeded in winning this seat. The region has also seen ups and downs in the Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress winning in 2009 and 2014, while the BJP defeated Trinamool in 2019 and the Congress in 2024.
Farakka assembly constituency has seen many ups and downs in 17 assembly elections. Congress had won here 8 times, CPI(M) 6 times and Bangla Congress once in 1967 and 1969. The CPI(M) was dominant from 1971 to 1991, after which the Congress won five consecutive terms. In 2021, Manirul Islam of Trinamool Congress won. The rise of BJP in Farakka started with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, all the 7 MLAs elected from this area have been from the Muslim community.
Samserganj assembly constituency was established before the 2011 assembly elections. Till now three elections have been held here. The Congress party has always held the lead in this region, while the Trinamool Congress has consistently won the previous elections. CPI(M)’s Taub Ali won in 2011, while Trinamool Congress’s Amirul Islam won in 2016 and 2021.
–IANS
DCH/AS
