Kolkata: Fending off barbs over the RG Kar incident, alleged infiltration, and his "outsider" status raised by the BJP, current MLA and deputy mayor Atin Ghosh appears confident of retaining the Cossipore-Belgachhia constituency for a second term.
Confidence and Campaign Strategies
While Ghosh is confident of a record-margin win, his primary opponent, BJP's Ritesh Tiwari, has centred his campaign on portraying Ghosh as a "neighbour" rather than a representative of the constituency. Tiwari said, "Ghosh has made no contribution here. All the development he claims to have spearheaded was carried out either by the former MLA or the councillors. In the last five years, he has hardly visited the area. He is only concerned about ward 11, where he resides."
Ghosh dismissed the charge, stating, "Suvendu Adhikari is a resident of Kanthi but is contesting from Bhawanipore. Sajal Ghosh and Tapas Roy are voters of Chowrangee but are candidates from Baranagar and Maniktala, respectively. The only thing people consider is the development work I have done over the last five years. I have prepared a ward-wise report card and distributed it among voters."
Constituency Profile and Key Issues
This constituency stretches from Cossipore to Chitpur, covering Dum Dum Road, Paikpara, Tala, and the Belgachhia area. It extends from the banks of the Hooghly to Dum Dum station. Locals highlighted major issues such as poor sewerage, commuting problems, and waterlogging in several pockets, including Paikpara and parts of Sinthi.
There are also concerns about ageing structures, especially along the river, with locals seeking restoration to preserve heritage. The condition of Chitpore Road is very poor, and air pollution is a major problem.
Ghosh said, "The nature of the soil in this city is unique, which causes roads to get damaged quickly. The KMC is addressing this; during this five-year tenure, several roads have been repaired and other plans are in the pipeline. Work to improve the sewerage is already underway, and over the next five years, my focus will be on bringing drastic changes to the system and covering open drains wherever they exist."
RG Kar Incident and Allegations
The constituency also includes RG Kar Hospital, the site of the rape-and-murder incident. Tiwari alleged worsening law and order and lack of progress on restoring North Suburban Hospital. He said, "The population of this area has suddenly increased because infiltration was quietly allowed during his tenure… Fifty per cent of the water bodies were filled in for illegal construction… People want change now." Ghosh termed these allegations baseless.
Electoral Dynamics
Following the SIR, around 62,000 names have been deleted here, which Tiwari believes will help BJP. Meanwhile, Congress and Left candidates are focusing on civic concerns. Historically, the area saw strong Left and Congress contests. After delimitation in 2011, TMC consolidated its hold, with Ghosh winning in 2021 by 35,390 votes. The BJP, however, significantly increased its vote share, making the contest tighter this time.
