Kolkata's upscale Ballygunge in south Kolkata, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) stronghold for over 25 years, presents a unique blend of cultures and economic classes. High-rises and affluent neighborhoods coexist with sprawling slums, creating a constituency of stark contrasts.
Voter Deletions and Their Impact
A staggering 71,000 names were removed from the electoral roll, reducing the electorate from 2,55,000 to 1.8 lakh. Muslims, who constituted nearly 50% of voters until 2021, were disproportionately affected. Observers note that while Ballygunge saw 62% polling in 2021, turnout was largely driven by slum areas. The deletions could significantly alter the electoral arithmetic.
The Candidates
The seat will witness TMC veteran and state minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, an MLA since 1991 and minister since 2011, take on relatively new faces: BJP's Shatorupa, CPM's Afreen Begum, and Congress' Rohan Mitra. Chattopadhyay, a former boxer and founding TMC member, is expected to have an easy win. He won from Khardah in 2021 after four consecutive wins from Rashbehari starting in 2001.
In 2021, TMC secured a 71% vote share in Ballygunge. The constituency is bounded by affluent areas like Ballygunge Circular Road, Gariahat, and Mandeville Gardens on one side, and minority-dominated Park Circus, Tangra, and Tiljala on the other. Chattopadhyay believes the voter deletions were aimed at eroding TMC's base. "The plan will not work. Ballygunge voters have seen through the BJP's design. I have faced tougher battles, and this time the opposition has no issue to reverse our winning trend. I will win by a big margin. This will be my 10th term as an MLA, and the feeling is truly special," said the 82-year-old.
BJP's Shatorupa downplayed the deletions, stating, "Both Hindu and Muslim names have been removed. But they are mostly dead, shifted, or duplicate names across communities. Muslims remain the majority here. Alongside upscale neighborhoods, there are slums lacking water access. My appeal to Muslims is to decide if they want to continue being used by TMC for illegal activities or join the mainstream and benefit from BJP's development promises. Minorities are better off in other states."
Infrastructure and Contrasts
Despite strong infrastructure—schools, hospitals, hotels, and retail hubs—contrasts persist. Landmarks like Rabindra Sarobar, Birla Mandir, and Bose Institute highlight the area's heritage. Ballygunge is home to some of south Kolkata's oldest neighborhoods, once inhabited by luminaries like Satyajit Ray, Jyoti Basu, and Sunil Gangopadhyay. Areas like Hindustan Park, Dover Lane, and Fern Road host cultural events and Durga Pujas. Yet, these coexist with pockets lacking basic amenities.
CPM candidate Afreen Begum flagged these gaps. "Women in Ballygunge spend long hours outside for work and need safety. If elected, I plan to build toilets and rest rooms for women. Senior citizens in high-rises need better security, for which I have planned an app and helpline to activate quick response teams. I also aim to revive government hospitals and schools in the area," she said. Afreen alleged selective deletions: "This will definitely impact the election result. We have tried our best to get as many enrolled as possible. We are waiting for names to be included on April 27."
Congress candidate Rohan Mitra criticized TMC's credibility. "Eighty lakh youth enrolled for the Yuva Sathi scheme, indicating the government's failure to provide jobs. There are no civic amenities, even streetlights are missing. The TMC candidate is not only an outsider but too old to serve the people," he said.
The election in Ballygunge promises to be a closely watched contest, with voter deletions and contrasting visions for development at the forefront.
