ISF leader Nawsad Siddique has decided to contest from Diamond Harbour which has nearly 70 per cent of Muslim voters. The constituency is ruled by the TMC as Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee has been a two-time MP from the seat.
It has been two days since the Congress released its third list for the Lok Sabha polls. And as it was anticipated, party leader Adhir Chowdhury has been nominated from his turf Berhampore— a seat which he has been winning since 1999. Opposite him, the ruling party has fielded former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. Given his stardom, the Berhampore Lok Sabha constituency has become the talk of the town pertaining to the general elections.
However, another Lok Sabha constituency from the state which is getting the limelight is Diamond Harbour. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been fielded by the party from the seat, which he has been contesting since 2014 and has managed to retain it.
To make the matter worrisome for the TMC, the leader of the Indian Secular Front has expressed his desire to contest from the Diamond Harbour constituency— Nawsad Siddique. ISF and Left front in the state are in alliance with each other. And now the Congress has also joined their team.
Siddique is the lone ISF MLA in the state who represents Bhangar. His influence in the area is of prominence and with time he has emerged as a known face in state politics. While one does not know whether or not Siddique will be fielded from Diamond Harbour, his statement has led to a buzz.
Earlier, polls in the Diamond Harbour constituency appeared like a win-win situation for the TMC. But, if Siddique contests from the constituency — given the situation on ground chances of this is really high — then the contest here would turn into a battleground.
Diamond Harbour falls under South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. A place which has more than half of Muslim voters — nearly 70 per cent — who has always polled in favour of the TMC. The electorate might get deviated because they are getting another option that, too, in the form of a Muslim candidate. This can lead to polarisation of Muslim votes. Siddique had challenged TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek, claiming that he will defeat him from the seat.
There is every ground to consider Diamond Harbour to be a high-profile seat. Siddique proved his mettle by becoming the MLA from Bhangar which falls under South 24 Parganas. Thus, breaking TMC’s control on the constituency.
So, in the electoral politics of West Bengal in 2024, Diamond Harbour is not a secured seat for the TMC, which is going solo in the state for the 2024 parliamentary elections
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