New Delhi: The first phase of voting will happen on Saturday (March 27) for 30 and 47 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal and Assam, respectively.
In West Bengal, the first phase of polling will resolve the electoral destiny of 191 candidates together with 21 girls. TMC had received 27 out of these 30 seats in the 2016 elections whereas BJP was not a significant participant in the final polls.
In Assam, a complete of 264 candidates are in the fray from 47 seats — 42 seats from 11 districts of Upper Assam and northern Assam area and 5 seats from central Assam`s Nagaon district going to polls in the first phase.
Here`s a take a look at a number of key candidates from each states.
FIRST PHASE OF VOTING FOR WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY
The constituencies coated are from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a few constituencies from Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur.
From Purulia, sitting MLA Sudip Mukherjee is contesting, he lately joined BJP, whereas Congress has fielded Partha Pratim Banerjee and TMC has fielded Sujoy Banerjee. In the final meeting election, Mukherjee then representing Congress had defeated Jyoti Prasad Singh Deo of TMC.
Shantiram Mahato is contesting from Balarampur constituency from Purulia district, whereas Congress has fielded Uttam Kumar Bandyopadhyay. Congress` Nepal Chandra Mahato is contesting from Baghmundi constituency in Purulia.
Ashutosh Mahato is fielded from All Jharkhand Students Union AJSU social gathering, an ally of the BJP whereas Sushanta Mahato is contesting from TMC.
In the Medinipur constituency in Paschim Medinipur district, TMC has fielded actor June Maliah, BJP has fielded Samit Kumar Das whereas for CPI(M), Tarun Kumar Ghosh is contesting.
For Khejuri, a seat reserved for scheduled castes in East Medinipur district, Partha Pratim Das will struggle Santanu Pramanik of BJP and Himangshu Das of CPI(M) .
TMC veteran and incumbent MLA Akhil Giri is contesting from the Ramnagar constituency in Purba Medinipur. The BJP has fielded Swadesh Ranjan Nayak whereas Sabyasachi Jana is representating CPI(M).
In Kharagpur constituency, it’s a mouthwatering competitors between Dinen Roy (TMC), Tapan Bhuiya (BJP) and Sk.Saddam Ali (CPIM).
Bankura homes round 42 per cent of SC and ST voters, that are the primary targets of the three events. The rural inhabitants of Bankura stands at 92.67 per cent, a report by ANI states.
TMC has fielded actor Sayantika Banerjee in opposition to BJP`s Niladri Sekhar Dana, whereas Radha Rani Benerjee will likely be contesting from Congress. The Bankura seat went to Congress candidate Shampa Daripa in 2016, who later joined Trinamool.
Chandana Bauri, a day by day wager is contesting on the BJP ticket from Satlora (SC) constituency in the Bankura district. Sontosh Kumar Mondal is contesting from TMC. Nandadulal Bauri is from CPI (M). In Jhargram constituency, TMC`s Birbaha Hansda will face off in opposition to BJP`s Sukhmoy Satpati. Jhargram carries an important deal of significance for the events.
Once often called a den for Maoists, the district is dominated by SC/ST communities – Santhals and Kurmis. The Kurmis have electoral significance in about 30 out of the 42 constituencies in the area, so each events are combating exhausting to realize the assist of the neighborhood.
Although BJP had secured a robust place in Purulia and Jhargram in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, many consider that the ruling TMC has one way or the other managed to garner again some assist via new programmes reminiscent of `Duare Sarkar`.
FIRST PHASE OF VOTING FOR ASSAM ASSEMBLY
In Assam, the stage is ready for the polling in 47 constituencies in 12 districts on March 27 in the state the place the BJP authorities is in search of to regain energy in the 126-member legislature. Prominent leaders together with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora, Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora and several other ministers are in the fray.
Sonowal is in search of re-election from Majuli, a seat he wrested from Congress` Rajib Lochan Pegu in the 2016 Assembly elections. Pegu, who had received the seat for three straight phrases since 2001, has once more been fielded by Congress.
Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami is in the ballot battle from Jorhat, ministers Ranjit Dutta from Behali, Naba Kumar Doley from Jonai and Sanjoy Kishan from Tinsukia. The destiny of ministers from NDA ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)- Atul Bora from Bokakhat and Keshab Mahanta from Kaliabor- may even be sealed in the course of the first phase of polling on March 27.
Ripun Bora is making an attempt his luck from Gohpur seat, the place his spouse Monika Bora misplaced in the 2016 polls. The 60-year-old chief will face sitting BJP MLA Utpal Bora.
Among different high-profile candidates in the first phase embrace Congress Legislature Party chief Debabrata Saikia who’s contesting from Nazira, AICC Secretary Bhupen Borah from Bihpuria and former ministers Bharat Narah from Naoboicha, Pranatee Phukan from Naharkatiya and Rakibul Hussain from Samaguri.
Congress has fielded Jyoti Baruah in social gathering stronghold Titabar, a seat held by former chief minister Tarun Gogoi until his demise on November 23, 2020. BJP candidate Hemanta Kalita will contest in opposition to Baruah.Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of newly-floated regional political social gathering Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) will contest from two seats — Duliajan and Naharkatia which can go to polls in the first phase.
The destiny of jailed anti-CAA activist and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi from Sibsagar will likely be determined in the first phase. Gogoi, a peasant chief, is in jail since December 2019 in reference to a National Investigation Agency (NIA) case for his function in the anti-CAA protests in Assam.
He was arrested below the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).As Raijor Dal had reportedly did not register with the election fee as a political social gathering, all of the Raijor Dal candidates will contest the polls as impartial candidates.
Assam Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal are contesting the polls in an alliance. The state, in its three-phased polls, is witnessing a direct struggle between the BJP-Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Congress-AIUDF alliance.
The BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s governance, Central public welfare schemes and on the picture of Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.
While Congress is heading into the battle in opposition to the ruling social gathering bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to the fore.
(With inputs from businesses)
