Asansol: Amid grievances over the SIR process and long-standing concerns such as pollution, illegal coal mining, the ‘mafia raj’ and drinking water shortage, Asansol — one of India’s key coal trading hubs — is gearing up for a high-stakes electoral contest between Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The battle is focused on two crucial constituencies in West Burdwan district: Asansol North and Asansol South.Nearly a week before the two constituencies head to polls on April 23, the 2021 winners — BJP’s Agnimitra Paul (Asansol South) and Trinamool’s Moloy Ghatak (Asansol North) — appeared confident of securing victory with even larger margins this time. Other candidates, including Trinamool’s Tapas Banerjee in Asansol South and BJP’s Krishnendu Mukherjee in Asansol North, are also in the fray. In Asansol South, CPM has fielded Shilpi Chakraborty and Congress has named Souvik Mukherjee. In Asansol North, the CPM candidate is Akhilesh Kumar Singh, while Congress has selected Prasenjit Puitandi.For the first time, parties have released formal manifestoes, and the leaflets being distributed highlight long-unresolved local problems. For electors, the choice has become “a matter of trust” in both the candidates and their promises. Following her 2021 assembly victory in Asansol South, Paul is contesting the same seat again, hoping for an increased mandate. Unlike the previous election, Paul faces no celebrity rival this time, as Trinamool has fielded septuagenarian advocate Tapas Banerjee against her. The BJP’s campaign literature includes a brief introduction to Paul and her ‘Parai Parai Didibhai’ (sister in every neighborhood) initiative. “My confidence as a candidate has grown. In 2021, I had only one year of experience here. Now, I am banking on five years of experience; I know many residents by name and share a strong bond with the people of Asansol. I don’t stay indoors; I reach out to people whenever they are in need,” Paul told TOI. Key highlights of her campaign include her party’s promise to implement the 7th Pay Commission within 45 days, a five-year age relaxation for job applicants affected by corruption, transparent recruitment for vacant govt posts, women’s safety, and zero tolerance for scams. Her opponent, Tapas Banerjee, is countering with issues such as SIR-related harassment, religious division, and spiraling fuel and gas prices. “Whatever they may propagate, people know the reality. The residents of Asansol bore the brunt of SIR woes and are witnessing attempts to break unity in the name of religion,” he said.In the Asansol North, a close contest is expected between Moloy Ghatak and Krishnendu Mukherjee, who faced off in the previous assembly election. In 2021, Ghatak won with over one lakh votes. In an interview with TOI, Ghatak said, “CM Mamata Banerjee has established a super-specialty hospital, an IT hub, a medical college, and a women’s police station in Asansol. Development has always been our party’s agenda. Given the work the state govt has done, I am confident of receiving more votes this time.” Mukherjee’s campaign focuses on water scarcity, pollution, and illegal mining — issues he claims have persisted since the Left Front era. “If voted to power, I will address the grievances that have been neglected for years,” Mukherjee said.
