West Bengal assembly polls: Outreach by MLA aspirants adds colour to last March weekend

KOLKATA: With exactly a month to go before the polling day, Kolkata slipped into full campaign mode on Sunday, as streets turned into a rolling carnival of colour, sound and political theatre. From dhak beats and drum processions to door-to-door appeals in narrow lanes, candidates across party lines fanned out across neighbourhoods, each trying to leave a deeper imprint on voters.

In Tollygunge, cabinet minister and Trinamool Congress candidate Aroop Biswas led one of the most vibrant rallies of the day. Accompanied by rhythmic dhak beats and a swelling crowd of supporters, his procession snaked through Bijoygarh, Netaji Nagar, Gandhi Colony and adjoining pockets under ward 98. Party flags and balloons fluttered overhead as residents gathered on balconies and pavements, turning the rally into a festive spectacle.

"Almost everyone knows me here and I am there with these people 365 days a year. I make it a point to visit almost all wards in my constituency every week. So, I don't need to do anything special during my campaigns," said Biswas.

Not far away, Firhad Hakim balanced a packed schedule that reflected his dual responsibility — defending his Kolkata Port seat while also campaigning in Bhowanipore, where CM Mamata Banerjee is contesting. His day began with a brisk walk through the bylanes of Chetla, where he stopped frequently to interact with residents, before shifting to Kidderpore's Dahi Ghat area in the evening for a roadshow.

"I personally sit at ward offices in both the areas every week to listen to the pleas of people. I am aware of their problems and have taken care of most of them. There are some recurring issues related to roads and scarcity of water at places, which too will be taken care of," said Hakim.

In central Kolkata's Chowringhee, Trinamool candidate Nayna Bandyopadhyay opted for a more intimate campaign style. Moving from door to door in ward 47 in the morning and ward 49 later in the day, she engaged directly with residents. Her interactions, she said, repeatedly brought up complaints about missing names from voter lists.

Further north, in Shyampukur, state minister Shashi Panja stitched together a marathon day of public engagements. From the bustling stretches of B K Pal Avenue to the historic Nimtala Ghat, and from Mohun Bagan Lane to Ramdulal Sarkar Street, her campaign blended political outreach with community events — blood donation camps, Jain temple visits and street-corner interactions. "Family members of the voters whose loved ones have been deleted from the electoral system are angry. They will voice their anger at the EVMs," said Panja, who herself was under adjudication till last week.

In Salt Lake, fire minister Sujit Bose led a high-energy rally along First Avenue, aiming to build momentum for a fourth consecutive win from Bidhannagar. Bose framed his pitch around development.

The opposition, too, matched the intensity. BJP candidate Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay campaigned in Nayapatti.

In Rasbehari, BJP's Swapan Dasgupta packed his Sunday with a mix of outreach formats. His campaign moved from the relatively affluent neighbourhoods of Golpark in the morning to the densely populated slums of Dhakuria by evening. "We have taken a two-pronged campaign strategy.

In the slums I am highlighting our party's assurance of Rs 3,000 for Lakshmir Bhandar and the issue of women safety. In middle-class neighbourhoods, we are highlighting the issues of extortion and lack of respectable jobs in the state."