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Bengal

Maheshtala bypoll: BJP made fake promises to voters, claims Trinamool

Kolkata: Though Trinamool Congress leaders are confident about retaining the Maheshtala Assembly seat, they alleged that BJP had tried to woo poor people by promising free gas connections if their candidate gets elected. The result of the bypoll will be announced on Thursday.
The seat fell vacant after Trinamool Congress MLA Kasturi Das died of a massive heart attack some months ago. The by-election was held on May 28, where over 70% votes had been polled.
The party has nominated Dulal Das, chairman of Maheshtala Municipality and husband of the deceased MLA. The BJP has nominated Sujit Ghosh, a retired police officer, while Congress and CPI-M have inked an alliance. CPI-M's candidate is Prabhat Chowdhury.
Local Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that BJP had promised the BPL card holders free gas connections, if their candidate gets elected. Intense campaigns with this assurance were conducted in the pockets where Trinamool Congress is strong.
As 22% voters are mostly people engaged in garment trade who belong to the minority community, the campaign was organised in a very calculated way in the areas dominated by them.
In the pockets where factory workers have strong presence, BJP had given plenty of assurances including free gas connections and setting up schools for their children.
There are 2,67,600 voters in the constituency. Kasturi Das had defeated Samik Lahiri of CPI-M by 12,457 votes in 2016.
Local Trinamool Congress leaders are confident of increase in the margin of Das. In vast areas under Maheshtala Municipality, the youths are engaged in some job or the other.
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