In Kolkata's Rashbehari constituency, the upcoming assembly by-election is shaping up to be a closely watched contest between two heavyweight neighbours: Trinamool Congress candidate Debasish Kumar and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Swapan Dasgupta. While the face-off appears straightforward, the dynamics are more complex.
Narrow Margins and Shifting Allegiances
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool held only a 1,700-vote lead in Rashbehari, a significant drop from the 21,500-vote margin Kumar secured in the 2021 assembly polls. This narrow lead has buoyed BJP's hopes of flipping the seat. Kumar, a popular incumbent known for year-round constituency work, is not taking the election lightly. The pre-poll questioning and a 15-hour Income Tax raid at his home during the campaign have bolstered BJP's corruption narrative. Kumar, however, claims the raid has helped him politically.
BJP's Strategy and Challenges
Dasgupta, a former MP and Padma Bhushan awardee, believes the narrowing margin indicates growing support for BJP's promise to cleanse Bengal's political system. He has been extensively touring neighbourhoods across the constituency. While his transition from journalism and academics to politics has been smooth among high-rise residents, his main challenge lies in reaching slum dwellers across eight Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards. Subrata Ghosh, Dasgupta's aide and former BJP councillor, said, "We are aware of our rival's strong presence in the slums. But our candidate is determined to address their plight and counter the false allegation that he is an outsider." Candidates from all parties are frequently visiting slums like Jhalder Math, as well as housing complexes in New Alipore, Southern Avenue, Lake Gardens, Hindusthan Park, and parts of Ballygunge. A BJP campaign manager noted that Dasgupta connects easily with the educated electorate, and these housing complexes could change the seat's complexion.
Trinamool's Counter and Allegations
Kumar dismissed the BJP's claims, stating that as a local resident for three decades, he remains deeply rooted and connected across all demographics. Dasgupta, however, maintains he is a son of the soil. "This time, the fight is between corruption and transparency, good governance and law-and-order failure, and job creation versus a shrinking economy," Dasgupta said, criticizing Trinamool leaders over extortion allegations. "Everywhere I go, citizens and businesspeople complain about extortion. In some places, a citizen simply repairing or painting their house is forced to pay a Trinamool councillor or the work is stopped," he alleged.
Voter Perspectives
Voters remain divided. Anup Mondal, a mason from a slum off Tollygunge Circular Road, appreciated the incumbent MLA and councillors for upgrading slums and providing basic amenities like drinking water and drainage. Conversely, some New Alipore residents alleged political interference remains a menace. Banani Sinha, a resident, said, "We don't have many civic or infrastructural problems, but extortion in the name of political protection is a disturbing factor we want to move past."
