Rampurhat: Close association with people, dev work, poll plank for TMC

Kolkata: The four-time MLA and outgoing state Agriculture minister Asish Banerjee is not only confident of his win for the fifth consecutive term but with a highest-ever margin from Rampurhat Assembly constituency in Birbhum resting on the development work carried out by Mamata Banerjee government and his close association with the people in the grassroot level in the tribal dominant Assembly constituency.

Banerjee is one of the oldest lieutenants of Trinamool Congress supremo had ousted CPI(M) from Rampurhat long back in 2001 and with a wide experience of serving as ministers of different departments since TMC formed government in 2011 has ensured the development of his constituency. The development has touched the lives of people from all walks of life starting from farmers to students.

While construction, widening and strengthening of roads immensely benefited the stone crushing sector in the region, setting up of a multi-supersiality hospital along with Nabarun Sasthya Kendra has given a major facelift to the health sector in the region. Students now no longer need to travel long distances for higher studies as MA courses in English, Bengali and Sanskrit have been initiated at Rampurhat College itself. Infrastructure of schools have also been developed. Birbhum district is known for its Baul song. Keeping the cultural side of the area in mind, Banerjee has also ensured setting up of 250 cultural stages in villages. For the agriculture sector, the local MLA and the state agriculture minister has also ensured setting up of "river lift irrigation system" in his constituency as well.

Banerjee, who is also the chairperson of Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), completed construction of a bypass connecting the town besides carrying out massive beautification of the area.

There are some pockets where supply of sufficient drinking water will be ensured soon.

"We are reaching to the people with the development work carried out by our government. We are getting overwhelming responses. I am not only confident of my win but will also increase our margin this time," said Banerjee, the 69-year-old educationist and veteran politician, who is visiting door-to-door braving the scorching heat as a part of his programme to connect with the people in the grassroot level.

There are around 2.71 lakh voters with around 15 per cent from the tribal community in the constituency that is going for polls on April 29. Banerjee had won by 21,199 votes in 2016 from the constituency. But in the 2019 Parliamentary elections, TMC trailed by around 13,000 votes from the constituency that falls under Birbhum Lok Sabha seat from where Satabdi Roy got elected as an MP.

Taking a dig at BJP, Banerjee said: "They are in power for almost seven years at the Centre, but yet to address the demand of the people of Rampurhat to give a two-minute halt of Satabdi Express at Rampurhat. People basically expect nothing from them (BJP) as all are well aware of their anti-people policies."

Both TMC and CPI(M) have alleged of factional feud in the saffron camp. But the BJP candidate brushed aside the allegation and claimed they are giving a united fight.

CPI(M) and BJP fielded Sanjib Barman and Subhasis Chowdhury respectively from the constituency. They also claimed to get people's mandate from the constituency.