The Maniktala constituency in Kolkata is gearing up for a closely contested electoral battle between seasoned politician Tapas Roy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and first-time contender Shrreya Pande, representing the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Roy, a five-time MLA, and Pande, the daughter of late MLA Sadhan Pande, share a past family connection but are now locked in a fierce political rivalry.
Campaign Strategies and Key Issues
Shrreya Pande has been actively campaigning across the entire assembly area, emphasizing her strong bond with the people of Maniktala. She stated, "I have a very strong bond with the people of Maniktala, and I stand by them throughout the year, so they know me. I started my campaign 35 days before the election dates were declared." In contrast, Tapas Roy has focused more on electoral calculations and highlighted several civic issues, particularly the water supply system. He remarked, "After Sadhan Da's death, there was no MLA in Maniktala for a long time, and many areas remained neglected. The law-and-order situation, unemployment, women's safety — these are the issues that need to be addressed immediately."
Historical Context and Political Dynamics
Since the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal in 2011, Sadhan Pande won the Maniktala seat three times — in 2011, 2016, and 2021. Following his death, his wife Supti Pande contested the 2024 bypoll and secured a victory with a margin of 62,312 votes against BJP's Kalyan Choubey. Addressing the contest against his former colleague's daughter, Roy said, "I don't think this will be a factor. Could Rahul Gandhi become Nehru, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi? Could Abhishek ever become Mamata Banerjee? People no longer want dynasty politics. The Legislative Assembly is not a place for artists or a beauty parlour, but Mamata Banerjee has filled half the assembly with artists."
Shrreya Pande dismissed Roy's remarks, asserting, "Daddy is always with me in every corner of Maniktala. Sometimes people call me Sadhaner meye, some say Sadhan Da'r meye, and that is a blessing for me. I am confident that I will get their full support."
Demographics and Electoral Trends
Maniktala comprises eight wards spanning Maniktala Main Road, Ultadanga, Phoolbagan, Sealdah, and adjoining areas, with a population of 211,214. Notably, 47,778 names were deleted from the voter list after the Summary Revision (SIR). In the 2021 election, Sadhan Pande won by a margin of 20,000 votes against BJP's Kalyan Choubey. The TMC's vote share increased from 50.8% in 2021 to 71.6% in 2024, while the BJP's vote share declined from 35.6% to 17.9%.
