As the third phase of Lok Sabha elections unfolds in West Bengal, the spotlight falls on four Muslim-majority constituencies poised for a high-stakes electoral battle on Tuesday.
Against the backdrop of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) discourse, the division of minority votes between the Left-Congress alliance and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) sets the stage for a narrative-driven showdown.
In Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Jangipur, and Murshidabad, voters will cast their ballots amidst a political landscape rife with strategic maneuvers and electoral narratives.
Notable among the contenders is Mohammed Salim, the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), vying for a return to the lower house of Parliament after a five-year hiatus.
The incumbent Murshidabad and Jangipur Lok Sabha seats, presently held by the TMC, see the party fielding sitting MPs Abu Taher and Khalilur Rehman, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) puts forth Khagen Murmu for Malda Uttar, banking on a potential division of votes between the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance.
In Malda Dakshin, the Congress passes on its representation mantle to Isha Khan Choudhury, son of party patriarch ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, amidst a backdrop of shifting political dynamics.
The electoral landscape of Malda and Murshidabad districts, boasting significant minority populations, serves as a pivotal battleground. Here, the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance vie for a substantial share of minority votes, crucial in shaping the electoral outcome.
Conversely, the BJP strategically leverages the CAA discourse and potential minority vote fragmentation, particularly in bordering districts with a substantial refugee population.
Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty said, "In this third phase, beyond the fight between the TMC and the BJP, it will be a showdown between the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance, vying for the lion's share of minority votes. The BJP anticipates that a division in minority voters might favour its electoral prospects in the region."
While issues such as riverbank erosion and unemployment resonate, the discourse surrounding CAA implementation and its implications for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) dominate the electoral narrative.
In Murshidabad, the Left-Congress alliance sees a glimmer of hope with the candidacy of former CPI(M) MP Mohammed Salim.
Both parties rally behind Salim, identifying Murshidabad as a battleground where the alliance stands a chance against the TMC and the BJP.
Despite the TMC's stronghold, particularly in Murshidabad, where it secured over 40% of the votes in 2019, electoral dynamics remain fluid.
The BJP and Congress remain contenders, reflecting a competitive three-cornered contest.
Similarly, in Jangipur, historically associated with former President Pranab Mukherjee, the TMC aims to maintain its hold amidst a fierce electoral contest with the BJP and Congress.
The Left-Congress alliance pins its hopes on the legacy of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury in Malda Dakshin, while the TMC nominates political newcomer Shanawaz Ali Raihan.
With a substantial minority population, Malda Dakshin presents a fiercely contested electoral terrain, with the TMC, BJP, and Congress locked in a battle for supremacy.
In Malda Uttar, the BJP seeks to capitalise on its electoral gains, banking on a potential split between the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance.
As 73,37,651 voters prepare to cast their ballots in 7,360 polling stations, the electoral fate of West Bengal's minority-dominated districts hangs in the balance.
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