Jadavpur: All eyes on rural segments

KOLKATA/BHANGAR: As one of Bengal’s most prestigious seats gets ready to vote next Sunday — with actor and political debutante Mimi Chakraborty pitted against former mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya — Jadavpur’s political fate may well be sealed from the “rural” assembly segments of Bhangar, Sonarpur and Baruipur.
Leaders of the ruling party that has deep organizational penetration in these belts said they have ensured Chakraborty campaigned extensively — going from para to para — before even starting active campaigning in urban pockets.
The Left — traditionally strong here and fielding a political veteran — felt Bhattacharya was its best bet in Bengal. But, with the changing demography of the area, the BJP is desperate to make inroads, banking on the aspiring middle class that’s making its religious preferences more noticeable.

“It’s El Clasico. And there can be no slip-ups,” said Gautam Das, vice-chairman of Baruipur Municipality sitting at his party office located beside Baruipur rail overbridge.
“CPM has an organization. The BJP is a minor irritant. Unlike several other duels elsewhere in this state, we are preparing for a classic political derby. My men distributed voters’ slips from 7am. They also had to attend a meeting with transport minister Suvendu Adhikary today evening,” he said, adding that Anubrata Mondal, Birbhum Trinamool chief, had addressed a rally 24 hours earlier.
So, why this hectic campaigning, especially when chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself held a rally two days ago? The answer came from Arabul Islam, Bhangar’s most recognizable leader. Busy campaigning near Satberia, he said: “The victory margin here will decide the winner. The target is to give her a bigger lead than last time (66,000),” he said.
Bhattacharya himself seemed to be aware of the Trinamool strategy. Supported by the Jami, Jibon, Jibika, Poribesh O Bastutantra Raksha Committee that primarily led the protest against a power grid project , Bhattacharya said he would be camping at Bhangar on the day of the elections. “People will cast a vote for change, though they fear that Trinamool goons might not allow them to cast their votes. If it is a peaceful vote, the Left will win the elections,” said Bhattarcharya.
Going by previous stats, Trinamool enjoys comfortable leads across six of the seven assembly segments barring Jadavpur. But doubts linger. “Traditionally a Left bastion that elected the likes of Somnath Chatterjee, the seat also sprang a surprise by electing Mamata Banerjee to Parliament and is now turning a green bastion. I don’t think Chakraborty will represent Jadavpur in the Parliament. But, CPM’s weak organizational strength in rural pockets may give Trinamool an edge,” said a senior citizen from Jadavpur Central Road.
Dibyuendu Hota, a JU student and a Ganguly Bagan resident, counters this. “Baruipur and Sonarpur are witnessing demographic changes with the upper middle class interested in settling here,” he said. BJP is banking on this aspiration. “People will vote out Trinamool and we are the strongest opponent,” said BJP’s Anupam Hazra.