The room full of reporters burst into laughter when ‘Disco King’ Bappi Lahiri, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Sreerampore Lok Sabha constituency in Hooghly said that the hike in the price of gold is because of his “star power.” “The price of gold is increasing (because of me) and that indeed is global news.”
The price of gold has increased in the city over a fortnight since Mr. Lahiri, who is always seen in public wearing several gold ornaments, has embarked on his mission to defeat the heavyweights in the constituency such as Trinamool Congress candidate Kalyan Banerjee.
Clad in a saffron kurta and black coat with his trade mark gold locket of Lord Ganesha dangling on his chest, Mr. Lahiri was explaining whether the recent hike in the price of gold in Kolkata was because of his charisma.
“A news channel of international repute once said I am responsible for rise in the gold price.”
However, gold traders in the city attribute the recent hike in the price to marriages.
Mr. Lahiri also announced his agenda if he wins the Sreerampore seat. “I will renovate the temples in Sreerampore which are in dilapidated condition and put the area on the tourism map attracting devotees from across the country,” he said.
However, the chances of his winning are slim. While the vote share is less in the district and the constituency, it is unlikely that Mr. Lahiri is going to get any of those votes. Besides, the BJP has performed poorly in the constituency in the last elections.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in Sreerampore constituency, the BJP candidate managed to secure only 3.56 per cent and lost his security deposit.
The Trinamool Congress candidate and the sitting MP, Kalyan Banerjee, however, managed to secure 52. 68 per cent votes.
In the 2011 Assembly elections, the performance of the BJP in several Assembly segments in Sreerampore was poor. In Uttarpara, the BJP candidate polled only 3.52 per cent whereas the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) got 59.77 per cent and 35.12 per cent respectively. In Singur, the BJP secured only 4.66 per cent in contrast to the Trinamool Congress’ 57.61.
But, Mr. Lahiri is confident. “I am a devotee of Ganapati Bappa,” he said while lightly touching the Ganesha locket dangling on his chest and added “….he (Ganesha) will ensure my victory.”
