The Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in West Bengal is gearing up for another intense political face-off in the upcoming elections, reminiscent of the high-voltage contest witnessed in 2016. Back then, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced challenges from Congress candidate Deepa Dasmunshi and BJP nominee Chandra Kumar Bose.
Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, had joined the BJP in 2016 and even emerged as a potential Chief Ministerial face. However, he parted ways with the BJP in September 2023. His family has a rich political legacy, with his grandfather, Sarat Chandra Bose, playing a crucial role in Netaji’s escape in 1941.
In past elections, Chandra Kumar Bose secured the third position in the 2016 polls and faced defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections against Trinamool Congress’ Mala Roy. Bhabanipur is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Kolkata Dakshin Parliamentary seat.
Deepa Dasmunshi, who contested against Mamata Banerjee in 2016, secured the second position with a significant vote share. She had earlier represented the Raiganj seat in Lok Sabha but lost it in 2014 to the CPI-M leader Mohammed Salim. Despite her political journey, she never contested from Raiganj again.
The upcoming elections in Bhabanipur are poised to be crucial, with Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari expected to engage in a significant political battle, adding another chapter to the constituency’s political history.
