Kolkata: The 'Partha-Da factor', a constant for two-and-a-half decades in Behala, has disappeared. For 25 years, starting in 2001, Behala Paschim voted for Partha Chatterjee, a heavyweight state cabinet minister until his arrest in a government job corruption case in 2022. Since then, the constituency has awaited the return of its MLA even as local conditions have deteriorated — incomplete drainage networks amid growing housing complexes have led to chronic waterlogging, while public transport and healthcare facilities have dwindled.
New Candidate, New Issues
Ratna Chatterjee, the Trinamool nominee contesting Behala Paschim for the first time after shifting from Behala Purba, immediately responds: "I was apprehensive about questions regarding Partha-da, but I have only been asked about civic issues. This factor is irrelevant now." The twin constituencies of Behala Paschim and Behala Purba are now witnessing a high-stakes battle where traditional loyalties are being tested by a combination of civic neglect, alleged institutional corruption, and a confident opposition.
"There are other issues that need immediate attention. We have decorated bus stands but fewer buses. In wards like 125 and 126, there is no proper drainage. Vidyasagar Hospital has equipment but lacks technicians and doctors. Biren Roy Road needs immediate repairs," Chatterjee admitted during a roadshow in Parnasree. She remains confident, despite this being an acid test for her political maturity. On paper, Trinamool should feel secure in Behala Paschim, as all local councillors belong to the party and its organisation is battle-hardened.
Three-Cornered Contest
Yet, unlike many parts of the state, this is a three-cornered contest where the BJP candidate, oncologist Indranil Khan, is expected to make it a close race and CPI(M)'s Nihar Bhakta, a former councillor from Sarsuna, aims to upset the established order. A significant factor "queering the pitch" is SIR deletions. Behala Purba has seen 58,112 deletions while Behala Paschim has 57,238. These shifts in the electoral roll have left candidates on all sides nervous about "safe" booths and traditional vote banks.
BJP's Focus on Corruption and Development
Khan has identified his key focus areas. Invoking issues ranging from a recent rape-murder case to a broader "tale of underdevelopment", Khan said residents had effectively landed in the "ICU" over the past 25 years, describing corruption as a "cancer" afflicting the area. "We must address both the healthcare crisis and local unemployment to keep families together," Khan said while canvassing near Oxytown.
CPI(M) Sees Comeback Opportunity
Bhakta, a strong organiser, believes Trinamool's "institutional corruption" is most evident in Behala. "This will be our comeback polls. We garnered more than 20% of the vote in 2021, only slightly behind BJP's 27.5%," he said.
Behala Purba: Two-Cornered Fight
Behala Purba will primarily see a two-cornered fight between veteran Trinamool neta and former Rajya Sabha MP Subhasish Chakraborty and BJP's Sankar Sikder. The issues are similar — drainage and roads top the list. "I don't believe in empty promises or differentiating based on political affiliations," Chakraborty said at a meeting in Charaktala. But Sikder claims Trinamool is on its way out. "We are winning here," he said.
Outlook
As Behala goes to the polls, Trinamool is betting on the "Mamata face" and social welfare schemes to shield it from local grievances. But with BJP mounting a professional campaign and CPI(M) reclaiming its ground, the 2026 election is poised for a tight finish.
