Krishnanagar LS poll battle expected to be tough with erstwhile royal in the fray

Krishnanagar in Nadia District, West Bengal, is a key constituency in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Trinamool Congress has re-nominated Mahua Moitra, while the BJP has fielded Amrita Roy, popularly known as ‘Rajmata’. Amrita Roy’s nomination gained national attention when she received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a telephonic conversation with the PM, Amrita Roy discussed the campaigns against her, including the targeting of late Raja Krishnachandra Roy by Trinamool Congress. PM Modi advised her to focus on the development of West Bengal and not pay heed to baseless slanders against the late Raja. Amrita Roy plans to campaign against corruption charges and highlight ‘Modi ki guarantee’ for the state’s development.

CPI(M) candidate SM Sadi, a former legislator, is also contesting from Krishnanagar. With a voter strength of 15,00,000, the constituency has a mix of urban and rural areas. Famous for clay doll production and handicrafts, a large part of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihood. Krishnanagar has witnessed fluctuating mandates since 1999, with Trinamool Congress winning the last three terms.

The constituency has a rich political history, with CPI(M) candidates winning eight consecutive victories from 1971 to 1998, followed by surprise wins by BJP and Trinamool Congress candidates. Amrita Roy and Mahua Moitra will face tough competition from CPI(M)’s SM Sadi in the upcoming elections.