“I don’t need 150 seats. Winning the one seat of Bhabanipur is enough to bring a change in Bengal,” thundered BJP president Amit Shah during an election rally at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home constituency, on Wednesday.

Scheduled to go to polls on April 30, Bhabanipur will witness a three-way fight, between Mamata, Deepa Dasmunsi of the Congress and the BJP’s Chandra Kumar Bose. Dasmunsi, a former MP and wife of former minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, will enjoy the support of the Left. In the 2011 by-election, Mamata won from the south Kolkata constituency with a margin of over 54,000 votes, securing 77 per cent of the total votes polled.

Change in plot However, a four-way fight in the 2014 Lok Sabha election saw the BJP managing a slender lead of 185 votes from this Assembly segment that is also the home of a large number of Gujaratis, Punjabis and Marwaris. The BJP even managed a win at Ward 70, where Mamata herself is a voter, in the 2015 civic polls. But, the councillor subsequently defected to the TMC.

The BJP is now keen to repeat the 2014 performance. It is also trying to cash in on the recent de-classification of Netaji files by fielding Subash Chandra Bose’s grand nephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, from Bhabanipur.

Bose, on his part, is focussing on development issues to widen the support base — which includes a substantial slum population — with a slew of star campaigners such as Amit Shah, Roopa Ganguly and actor Paresh Rawal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken for him, too.

On the flip side, as a first timer in politics, he lacks an edge when compared to Mamata and Dasmunsi. With the Left-Congress alliance also focusing its energy in this constituency, Bhabanipur is now keen to witness a “Didi versus Boudi” contest. While Mamata is “Didi”, Dasmunsi is commonly referred to in her party circles as “Boudi”, or sister-in-law.

Didi vs Boudi Dasmunsi is banking on her late husband’s connections and the CPI(M)’s organisation capacities to win votes. She has made it a symbolic fight against “the anti democratic TMC government”.

CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim, who defeated her in the 2014 Parliamentary elections from Raiganj, noted Left-backed intellectuals and retired Supreme Court judge Ashok Ganguly (of 2G spectrum verdict fame) have been star campaigners in her favour.

“I will win,” said a confident Dasmunsi.

But she has two hurdles to cross. First, the BJP vote share will play a deciding factor. Second, Dasmunsi is facing Bengal’s most popular political personality on her home turf.

All about Didi Bhabanipur is all about Didi. Her first road-show there, even on a Sunday (April 24), was a hit. The nearly 30 per cent slum population spread across wards 63, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77 and 82 are her most dedicated vote bank.

“Banerjee symbolises the everyday struggle of these people. The ultimate story of winning over adversities,” said a TMC leader requesting anonymity. For TMC, the challenge is not to ensure Mamata’s victory, but to retain her 2011 margins.

“Didi will win. The challenge for her and us (party) is to retain the margin,” the TMC leader said.

Is Bhabanipur headed for a one-sided battle in favour of Didi? Can a political upset happen? May 19 holds the key.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW