The Baranagar assembly by-poll in West Bengal has become the focal point of political activity as it coincides with the Lok Sabha polls. The contest has intensified with the participation of two prominent candidates from the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.
The seat fell vacant after Tapas Roy, a prominent Trinamool Congress leader and MLA, switched allegiance to the BJP and became the party's candidate for the Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha seat.
Both parties have fielded "star" candidates who gained prominence after the 2021 elections. Actor Sayantika Banerjee, representing the Trinamool Congress, will face off against Sajal Ghosh, a BJP councilor from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Sayantika Banerjee, despite losing in the Bankura constituency in 2021, has been appointed as a secretary within the Trinamool Congress. There were speculations about her candidacy for the Bankura Lok Sabha seat in 2024.
Sajal Ghosh, a popular BJP figure known for his fiery speeches and debates, has garnered attention across urban and semi-urban areas of West Bengal. His Ram Mandir-themed Durga Puja, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2023, further boosted his profile within the party.
The Baranagar assembly constituency falls under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat, where BJP's Shilbhadra Dutta will contest against sitting Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy. With the presence of these prominent candidates, the by-poll in Baranagar has become a closely watched electoral battle in West Bengal.
