New Delhi, February 12: The Behala East assembly seat, located in the southern part of Kolkata, holds significant importance in the state’s political landscape. This seat falls under the Kolkata South parliamentary constituency and is categorized as a general seat. Although part of Kolkata, it is administratively included in the South 24 Parganas district, comprising 11 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The history of this seat dates back to 1951, with various changes in name and boundaries over time. Initially, leftist parties dominated the region. The All India Forward Bloc recorded its first victory in 1952, followed by the Communist Party of India (CPI) winning in 1957 and 1962.
From 1967 to 2006, the CPI(M) won 9 out of 11 elections in Behala East. The Congress broke this streak in 1972, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) made its first significant impact in 2001. Since 2011, this seat has become a stronghold for the TMC, winning all three elections held in 2011, 2016, and 2021. In 2011, Sovon Chatterjee defeated Kumkum Chakraborty by 48,173 votes. The margin decreased to 24,294 votes in 2016, where independent candidate Ambikesh Mahapatra came in second. In 2021, Ratna Chatterjee triumphed over BJP’s Payel Sarkar by 37,428 votes.
The rise of the BJP in this constituency is a growing concern. The party’s vote share was a mere 1.91% in 2011, which surged to 10.71% in 2016 and reached 33.15% in 2021. This trend was also evident in the Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, the TMC led with 43.90% (89,341 votes), while the BJP garnered 36.10% (73,483 votes). In 2024, the TMC achieved 45.15% (97,125 votes), with the BJP at 38.07% (81,899 votes). The CPI(M)-Congress alliance received 14.17% of the votes.
In 2024, there were 313,669 registered voters in Behala East, with 10.16% belonging to Scheduled Castes and 3.80% Muslim voters. This constituency, characterized by 90.35% urban voters, has shown signs of voter apathy, with the voting percentage dropping from 73.83% in 2016 to 68.59% in 2024.
Behala East is one of Kolkata’s oldest residential areas, featuring flat terrain and excellent connectivity. The Diamond Harbour Road serves as the main artery, linking metro, rail, and road transport. Economically, the area relies on small businesses, retail, and services. The locality is bustling with shops, markets, and eateries from Taratala to Manton. It boasts strong educational and healthcare facilities, with nearby areas including Joka (6 km), Thakurpukur (4 km), Taratala (5 km), Alipore (9 km), and Howrah (15 km).
The BJP claims it can win with a two-thirds majority against the TMC’s 14-year rule. Meanwhile, the Congress’s decision not to contest in alliance is seen as a challenge for the TMC, potentially leading to a split in votes.
