Stage is set for one of the most prestigious contests of West Bengal here as senior politician and Trinamool Congress rebel Sudeep Bandopadhyay gears up to challenge his former mentor Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
A 2-time winner from the constituency, Bandopadhyay would be contesting as an independent. However, it won't be easy for him this time. He would be in a tough contest with the Trinamool candidate who is also the Calcutta mayor. To make it worse for him, the state BJPhas ruled out any link with Bandopadhyay whatsoever.
In 1999, Sudip Bandyopadhyay of All India Trinamool Congress had defeated Rajdeo Goala of CPI(M) by 94,239 votes in a 13-cornered contest. In 1998, Sudip was declared elected on a WBTC ticket. Then he had drubbed CPM's Sarala Maheswari by 73,483 votes.
In 1996, the seat had gone to Congress when its Debi Prosad Paltrounced Janata Dal's Shyamal Bhattacherjee by 64,951 votes. In 1991, Congress' Debi Prasad Pal had trounced Janata Dal's Dilip Chakravarty by 31,819 votes.
The first election from here was won by RSP whose Asoke Sen had retained the seat for Congress till 1984 except in 1977.
{{/usCountry}}The first election from here was won by RSP whose Asoke Sen had retained the seat for Congress till 1984 except in 1977.
{{/usCountry}}In 1989 giant-killer Debi Prosad Pal defeated Sen after the latter had moved on to Jana Dal, and the seat has remained safely in Congress' hands. In 1996 Pal defeated the JD's Shyamal Bhattacharjee by 65,000 votes. Interestingly, Amal Dutta (BJP) managed to corner 13.50 % of the vote.
Caste equation
It is difficult to establish community-wise breakup in this constituency. The large groups are those of people with Uttar Pradesh/Bihar origin, Kayasthas, Muslims and Brahmins.
Marwaris are also found in sizable numbers. Chamars are the dominant sub-castes among the SC community.