TMC's Debasish Kumar Faces Tight Race Against BJP's Swapan Dasgupta in Kolkata's Rashbehari

On the face of it, the contest appears to be a straight face-off between two heavyweight neighbours in Rashbehari — Trinamool's Debasish Kumar and BJP's Swapan Dasgupta — but that is not the case. In the 2024 LS elections, Trinamool held only a 1,700-vote lead in Rashbehari, which has led BJP to sense an opportunity here. Kumar is a resident of Monohar Pukur Road, and Dasgupta lives a stone's throw away, on Mahanirban Road. However, their familiarity as neighbours will not pave the way for a friendly fight.

Incumbent MLA Kumar, a popular figure known for nursing his turf year-round, is not taking this election lightly. The pre-poll questioning of Kumar, followed by a 15-hour IT raid at his home during the peak of the campaign, has also bolstered BJP's "corruption" plank. "This has helped me," Kumar said. However, the Trinamool election cell has reason to be concerned. Although Kumar won the Rashbehari constituency by a margin of 21,500 votes in 2021, the Trinamool candidate for the South Kolkata LS seat, Mala Roy, managed a lead of only 1,700 votes here three years later. BJP took the lead in four out of nine KMC wards while the remaining wards saw a see-saw battle between the two parties.

Ex-MP and Padma Bhushan awardee Dasgupta believes this indicates that BJP's promise to cleanse Bengal's political system is gaining traction among politically conscious voters. Dasgupta has been extensively touring neighbourhoods across the constituency. While the transition from journalism and academics to electoral politics has been smooth regarding voters in high-rises and housing complexes, the BJP candidate's primary concern lies with the thousands of residents in slums across eight KMC wards. "We are aware of our rival's strong presence in the slums. But our candidate is determined to address the plight of slum dwellers and is visiting every settlement repeatedly to build confidence and counter the false allegation that he is an outsider," said Subrata Ghosh, Dasgupta's aide and a former BJP councillor.

Jhalder Math, for instance — a slum between wards 81 and 88 — is being frequented by candidates from all parties. Rival candidates are also visiting housing complexes in New Alipore, Southern Avenue, Lake Gardens, Hindusthan Park, and parts of Ballygunge. "Our candidate is a well-known figure who connects easily with the educated electorate. These housing complexes have the potential to change the complexion of the Rashbehari seat," said a BJP campaign manager.

However, Kumar rubbished the claim, stating that as a local resident, he remains deeply rooted in the region and has been well-connected to voters across all demographics for three decades. Dasgupta maintains he is a son of the soil. "This time, the fight is between corruption and transparency, good governance and law-and-order failure, and job creation versus a shrinking economy. Citizens of Kolkata are ready to usher in a new beginning to restore Bengal's past glory," he said.

The BJP candidate also criticised Trinamool netas over allegations of extortion. "Everywhere I go, citizens and businesspeople complain about extortion. In some places, a citizen simply repairing or painting their house is forced to pay a Trinamool councillor or the work is stopped," Dasgupta alleged.

Voters remain divided amid these allegations. Anup Mondal, a mason from a slum off Tollygunge Circular Road, felt the incumbent MLA and councillors had upgraded the slums and provided basic amenities. "A few years ago, we suffered from drinking water scarcity and a poor drainage system. Those problems have been addressed," Mondal said. Conversely, some New Alipore residents alleged that political interference remained a menace. "We don't have many civic or infrastructural problems, but extortion in the name of political protection is a disturbing factor we want to move past," said Banani Sinha, a resident of New Alipore.