For the people of Bhatora, an island located on the border of the State’s Howrah district, the main issues in this election are electricity and connectivity.
The island, cut off from the mainland by at least two rivers Munderswari and Roopnarayan, is one of the remotest parts of the Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency, an area that has suffered neglect over time.
On the island, death due to snake bites is a common phenomenon and for the 20,000 habitants and about 10,000 voters agriculture remains the main occupation.
Once a stronghold of the Left parties, the place now has largely supporters of the Trinamool Congress.
“There was no electricity on the island nor were their proper roads. It is only after the Trinamool Congress wrested control from the Communist of Party of India (Marxist) in 2009 Lok Sabha polls that there has been development,” Trinamool Congress MP Sultan Ahmed who is also contesting the upcoming elections told The Hindu on Thursday.
One of the main reasons for the lack of development on this island, a meeting point of three districts in south Bengal-Howrah, Hooghly and Paschim Medinipur, has been the difficulty to access the island. Though only about 75 km from the city and on the side of the national highway, one has to take a boat to reach the island.
Villagers claim that not many public representatives reach there, though they admit that sitting MP Mr Ahmed has been more frequent than others elected in the past.
During Mr. Ahmed’s election campaign the issue of electricity and building a bridge across the river to provide a connection to the area emerges to be a recurrent theme.
“You have now got electric connection to your homes,” the sitting MP points out at every public meeting in the area. Mr. Ahmed said that it was only a couple of years ago that electric poles were put up and the area was electrified. He promises the people that he will take up issues like low voltage and a few families not having access to power soon after he is re-election.
Bicycles and boats are the only medium of transport. People raise the issue of Kulia bridge, connecting the area with the mainland- the foundation stone for which was laid by the Left Front government.
File missing“The file on the bridge has gone missing, the CPI(M) had hidden it somewhere. We have found it only a few months ago and I assure you that soon the work on the bridge will start,” Mr. Ahmed said.
There are also certain complaints about lack of health care facilities on the island, which the MP directs the elected Trinamool Congress gram pradhan to take up with the authorities.
At one of his meetings, Mr. Ahmed introduces Sridan Darjee, who won in the rural polls held last year as a Left Front nominee, but has recently crossed over to the Trinamool Congress.
At another rally, he introduces a school teacher. “Earlier, he was a comrade. Now he has joined us,” the MP tells his supporters.
There are virtually no posters and wall graffiti of the Left parties in the entire island and all that catches one’s eye are posters of Mamata Banerjee with her nominee for the Lok Sabha constituency- Sultan Ahmed.
The area which falls under Amta Assembly segment is represented by a Congress MLA, who is in the fray. Asked about the Congress candidate, a majority of villagers pointed out that he won with the support of Trinamool Congress in 2011 when the parties were in alliance.
While the constituency has a significant number – about 35 per cent of Muslim voters – the Trinamool Congress candidate do not think that the Opposition will make take away minority votes.
Ms. Ahmed who defeated a veteran CPI(M) MP Hannan Molla in 2009 Lok Sabha polls said that the only issue in the constituency is " development" and both majority and minority are on his side.
