If Nano is the issue in Hooghly, Rizwanur Rahman’s tragic death is the poll plank in another Kolkata-adjacent district, Howrah. Perfectly blending the graphics designer’s under-pressure suicide with the Sachar Committee report on living conditions of minorities in West Bengal, opposition Trinamool Congress is hoping to give the CPI(M) a tough fight in the erstwhile red fort.
The minority card is being flashed more in Uluberia rather than Howrah. Considering that a majority of voters in Uluberia are Muslims, Trinamool candidate Sultan Ahmed is making full use of the Sachar Committee report and Rizwanur death to garner voter sympathy. Rizwanur’s brother Rukbanur is often seen accompanying Ahmed to his campaign programmes.
The Trinamool is also making subtle attempts to infuse the fear of land acquisition in the agricultural belt of Uluberia, especially among Muslim farmers.
Ahmed is sure these issues will fetch him more votes than development talk. “In the 32 years of Left Front rule, living conditions of minorities have constantly degraded. For this to change, we need a change in the power position in West Bengal. I am confidant Uluberia will vote in favour of this change,” he said.
Long-standing CPI(M) Lok Sabha member Hannan Mollah, however, feels such efforts to mislead voters will not impact the election result.
“The people of Uluberia know us well. They know which political force has really worked for the welfare of farmers and minorities,” he said.
The factor working for Mollah is that he being a Bengali-speaking Muslim, is closer to the Bengali Muslims of Uluberia compared to Ahmed, who is a Urdu-speaking Muslim from outside.
In fact, as per the early projections by leading language news channels Star Ananda and Chabbish Ghanta, it would be a neck-and-neck battle. While Star Ananda placed Trinamool slightly ahead of the CPI(M), Chabbish Ghanta gave both parties an equal chance.
Meanwhile in Howrah, industrial shutdown and basic amenities are the key issues. Once called the ‘Sheffield of the East’ because of its foundry industry, Howrah has now lost much of its sheen because of the closure of most foundries. The Trinamool candidate from the constituency, Ambika Banerjee, is highlighting the plight of workers rendered jobless due to the closure to pull down CPI(M) MP Swadesh Chakrabarty.
On the other hand, the CPI(M) is banking on Chakrabarty’s clean image and the dynamic role he played as mayor of Howrah. Analysts have projected a tough battle here as well, with Chakrabarty enjoying a slight edge.
