LS elections: Tamluk residents demand Chandipur-Nandigram railway link, new industries

Tamluk (West Bengal) [India], May 24 (ANI): Voting will be held in 8 constituencies of West Bengal will the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

Out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal 25 constituencies have already voted in five phases held between April 19 and May 20. In the sixth phase Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Mednipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur will go to polls on May 25. Tamluk comprises a part of East Medinipur district.

All seven assembly segments under Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency are in East Medinipur district. Tamluk reflect a diverse demographic and remains a crucial constituency of West Bengal.

Locals demand Chandipur to Nandigram railway connection, Nandigram to Haldia flyover, new industries, Haldia to Kolaghat 6 lane highway network.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election TMC’s Dibyendu Adhikari won from the Tamluk garnering 724433 votes. TMC defeated BJP Sidharthashankar Naskar who got 534268 votes. The TMC secured 50 percent votes.

TMC’s Tamluk MP Dibyendu Adhikari, the brother of BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari joined the BJP in March 2024.

Bishnupur constituency will witness a face-off between Debangshu Bhattacharya from All India Trinamool Congress, Jurist turned-politician Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Sayan Banerjee of the CPI (M).

After filing his nomination from the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate and former Calcutta High Court judge, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, had said that he has respect for the opposition but it seems they are not very active or present in the current election race.

“I do not underestimate them (opposition), but I find that they are not on the ground. They are absent from the contest,” he said.

Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who stepped down as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court joined the BJP in March.

The Election Commission recently issued a show cause notice to Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing a public meeting held on May 15 in Haldia.

BJP candidate from Tamluk Lok Sabha seat Abhijit Gangopadhyay said, “I will reply to the notice. I have not said anything wrong about Mamata Banerjee”.

“Mamata Banerjee tumi koto takay bikri how? Tomar rate 10 lakh taka keno? Tumi Keya Seth k diye mukhe makeup koro bole? Mamata Banerjee mahila toh? Aamar mone proshno jaage majhe modhye’ (English Transcription), ‘Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakhs, why? Because you’re getting your make up done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes.’ (English Translation),” Gangopadhyay made these remarks on May 15 as per the ECI.

Debanshu Bhattacharya a resident of Howrah in West Bengal is TMC state Spokesperson. He is contesting election for the first time. He has over a million followers on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). He wrote the party’s hit campaign song ‘Khela Hobe’.

The polling for 42 seats of West Bengal is being held across all seven phases. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.

In 2019, BJP made strong inroads into TMC’s hold in West Bengal, by winning 18 seats and being a close second to TMC, which won 22 seats.