Can BJP’s Dilip Ghosh break Bardhaman-Durgapur’s pattern of not re-electing the same force twice?

In Bardhaman-Durgapur, a constituency with a history of not re-electing the same political force, is gearing up for a tough fight in the upcoming elections. Dilip Ghosh replaces SS Ahluwalia for BJP, while Trinamool Congress banks on Kirti Azad to challenge him along with CPI(M) candidate Dr Sukriti Ghoshal.

Since its inception before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Bardhaman-Durgapur has seen a trend of not electing the same political force twice. After CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress victories in 2009 and 2014 respectively, BJP’s SS Ahluwalia won in 2019. Now, Dilip Ghosh, former National Vice President and state President of BJP, is set to contest from the constituency.

Acknowledging the tough fight ahead, Dilip Ghosh has accepted the challenge of contesting from Bardhaman-Durgapur. He expressed his commitment to the party, stating, “As a dedicated soldier of the party, I am always ready to accept any assignment.” This move comes as a surprise as incumbents are often denied re-nomination or shifted from winning constituencies, causing grievances.

In response, the Trinamool Congress has fielded former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad as their candidate to take on Dilip Ghosh. However, Azad faces hurdles including being labeled an “outsider” by the BJP and dealing with internal infighting within the Trinamool Congress in the constituency. Despite these challenges, Azad is focused on highlighting his party’s successes and campaign agenda.

The CPI(M) candidate, Dr Sukriti Ghoshal, a retired principal with roots in the area, is also in the poll fray. However, the district Congress leaders are unhappy with the candidate selection process, accusing the CPI(M) of announcing the candidate’s name without consultations. The unique nature of the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, formed after delimitation, presents a complex electoral landscape with a total strength of around 16 lakh voters.