KrishnaGunj,the battle

Krishnaganj (VidhanSabha constituency) is an assembly constituency in Nadia district in West Bengal. The seat is reserved for scheduled castes. Hanskhali (VidhanSabha constituency) ceases to exist from 2011. As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, No. 88 Krishnaganj (VidhanSabha constituency) (SC) is composed of the following:Krishnaganj community development block, and Badkulla-I, Badkulla-II, BetnaGobindapur, Dakshin Para I, Dakshin Para II, Gajna, Mayurhat I and Mayurhat II gram panchayats of Hanskhali community development block.

Since 1977 Krishnaganj, earlier Hanskhali Vidhan Sabha constituency had been a strong forte for the Left as they won all the elections from 1977 to 2006. With the CHANGE Wave swiping West Bengal in 2011, Krishnaganj also got swiped away from the Left. In 2011, Sushil Biswas of Trinamool Congress got 96550 votes and his nearest competitor Barun Biswas of CPI(M) 75,616 votes.

Originally a leftist, Sushil Biswas, christened himself into politics as a CPI (M) leader through its peasants’ wing movements during the late 70s. He joined Trinamool Congress in 2005. Prior to that he was a three-time CPI (M) MLA and district secretary, but sacked for corruption and anti-party activities. He was also arrested on charges of corruption and was behind the bar for about seven months. After joining the Trinamool Congress on the request of Mukul Roy, Sushil Biswas made an unsuccessful attempt as Trinamool candidate in 2006 assembly election when he lost to CPI (M) leader and former state refugee rehabilitation minister Benoy Biswas. In 2011 election, he, however, won as Trinamul Congress nominee from Krishnaganj seat defeating BenoyBiswas.

Sushil Biswas (aged 64) from Krishnaganj (SC) assembly seat died on 20^th October 2014 at his home in Dafarpota village near Krishnanagar due to cardiac failure. Biswas, a retired primary school teacher by profession, had been suffering from kidney related problem for about past two years and was under dialysis. Biswas’s death necessitated a bypoll in the Krishnagar Assembly seat. 

Political parties have nominated their candidates for the by-poll which is scheduled on 13^th February 2015. Bharatiya Janata Party nominated Manabendra Roy, a Professor at Kalyani University. CPI (M) nominated Apurba Biswas, a doctor by profession. Trinamool Congress nominated Satyajit Biswas, a non-teaching staff of Radhasundari Paul Choudhury Vidyapith at Dakshinpara I gram panchayat. Indian National Congress nominated Nitya Gopal Mondal, a primary school teacher.CPI (M), Trinamool Congress and BharatiyaJanata Party leaders and party-workers are pretty confident to win this by-poll.

We thought of taking an unbiased feedback from few local residents of Krishnaganj and Hanshkhali community development block. What we came to know are, firstly the best organised political party in the block is CPI (M) and is followed by BJP whereas Trinamool Congress has lot of supporters but lacks in organisational part, secondly many from CPI (M) left and joined BJP and in recent times supporters of Trinamool Congress are also getting inclined towards BJP. When asked whether the contest will be in between CPI (M), BJP and Trinamool Congress the feedback was BJP and TMC. Few were of opinion BJP could have mopped up 5000-6000 more votes had they fielded a local candidate, few said CPI (M) have lost ground totally there and few were not happy with TMC’s candidate selection.

After father Sushil Biswas’ death, daughter Sunayana Biswas (Ghosh), a lawyer by profession, got assurance from local TMC leadership that she will be given TMC ticket for by-poll. Along with her five others were recommended by District leadership. But ticket was given to Satajit Biswas.Biswas’s death has necessitated a bypoll in the Krishnagar Assembly seat. 

BJP and TMC filed nomination on same day, on 24^th January 2015. TMC candidate went along with their trademark bike-brigade to file his nomination, whereas BJP had 200 strong supporters along with Manabendra Roy when he filed his nomination. Sunayana, daughter of Late Sushil Biswas said that she wants BJP candidate Manabendra Roy to win from Kishnaganj constituency. She herself went sand met Manabendra Roy when Roy was filing his nomination for BJP. Sunayana and Roy had discussion for a pretty long time! Sunayana said, “After my father’s death, Manabendra Babu(BJP candidate) showed unmatched compassion towards our family. I feel he is a gentle man. I wish he gets elected.” She even said to Roy in front of other TMC leaders and workers, “I am with you.”

A rift amongst TMC is now evident with candidate selection. Many are not happy with selection of Satyajit Biswas, as he migrated to India from Bangladesh only a few years back and managed ticket being a close associate of Gaurishankar Dutta, District President, Trinamool Congress. It is also apprehended that Sunayana along with her husband Parthasarathi Ghosh, ex Vice President of District Trinamool Yuva, will join BJP in meeting of BJP at Krishnaganj in front of Rahul Sinha, BJP State President.