KOLKATA: Kalita Majhi, the BJP candidate from Ausgram in Purba Burdwan, works as a domestic help and earns Rs 4,000 a month. She says that if elected, her priority will be to recruit more teachers in primary schools, citing a shortage in state-run institutions.
Majhi said she would follow the party’s directives, calling her candidature a “big responsibility” given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She alleged that the region lacks adequate schools and healthcare facilities. “There are no good schools. If there are schools, there are no teachers. If the poor fall ill, they have to go to the district hospital. The state government has not done anything for the tribals,” she said.
She will be pitted against TMC candidate Abhedananda Thander. Majhi previously contested the seat in the 2021 Assembly elections. Although she secured a significant 41 per cent of the votes, she lost by a margin of less than 12,000 votes.
Majhi also raised concerns over drinking water shortages and women’s safety, particularly in forest areas. “There is a drinking water problem here. Women’s safety is also an issue. Several incidents have taken place which women cannot speak about,” she added.
She criticised the TMC, alleging corruption and bias in the distribution of welfare benefits. She described the party as a “gang of thieves,” citing alleged irregularities in coal, sand and cattle-related activities. She alleged that housing schemes are provided to those aligned with party leadership.
Majhi claimed that employment and economic stability should take priority. “The money given under Lakshmi Bhandar and allowances is from our own tax money — how long will this continue? Prices of goods have increased, electricity bills have gone up and there is no employment. Poor people need jobs,” she added.