Out of fear shadow, Sandeshkhali hopes to vote in peace

Sandeshkhali: During the June 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sandeshkhali dominated political discourse and grabbed national attention. The riverine island emerged as a major political flashpoint, with BJP seeking to turn the tide against Trinamool by riding on protests over alleged sexual violence against women and land grabbing by former TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates.

Cut to April 2026, and much of the election-season frenzy is missing in this constituency at the edge of the Sundarbans. Apart from flags, posters and wall graffiti, campaigning is far less intense this time. Unlike 2024, no party has deployed high-profile campaigners to woo voters.



But residents of Sandeshkhali are not complaining, as long as they are able to cast their votes freely and the polls remain peaceful.

"No party now has the guts to force us to attend rallies or meetings. The atmosphere of fear and intimidation is gone and, hopefully, we will be able to vote in peace," said Kamala De Kayal, a shop owner across the Chhoto Kolagachia river in Sandeshkhali-I.

Most women said that with Sheikh and his associates, including Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, behind bars, they can now live without fear and cast their votes freely.

"Earlier, Shahjahan and his henchmen would not let us reach the booth. Despite being a voter for four decades, the first time I could cast my own vote was in the 2024 general elections. This time it is even more peaceful," said Urmila Das. Another voter, Jayanta Das, said the reign of terror and abuse of women by Sheikh and his gang is now history, and people can vote in peace.

However, on other side of Chhoto Kolagachia, in places like Bermajur, there are allegations of intimidation.

"Men sent by Shiekh's brother are still threatening voters, even if such threats have become a little more subtle," said Gita Bor, who was among the protesters in 2024.

Ayesha and Mumtaz Biwi, from the same locality, alleged that some BJP supporters were trying to trigger tension in the area.

Sandeshkhali is part of the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency. In 2024, BJP fielded Rekha Patra, one of the prominent faces of the Sandeshkhali protests, from Basirhat. Although Patra lost to TMC's Haji Nurul Islam, BJP led in the Sandeshkhali segment. BJP has fielded Sanat Sardar this time, while nominating Patra from Hingalganj. TMC has named Jhuma Sardar as its candidate, while CPM has fielded Rabindranath Sardar.

"The physical absence of Shahjahan and his men is definitely a reason for voters to feel secure and vote in peace," said Bilash Burman of CPM.

Achyutananda Naskar of TMC also acknowledged the absence of pre-poll violence and threats, though he claimed that BJP was trying to create unrest by bringing in outsiders.
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