 "West Bengal assembly polls: Can Baichung Bhutia cut through Bhattacharya's 'Siliguri model'?")
Constituency: Siliguri
The Siliguri segment falls under the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency which is under the BJP's control since 2009.
The BJP has fielded Geeta Chattapadhyay from the seat. A doctor by profession, she is banking on the Modi factor in the Assembly poll. However, the rivalry is reap between Bhutia and Bhattacharya.
The BJP has fielded Geeta Chattapadhyay from the seat. A doctor by profession, she is banking on the Modi factor in the Assembly poll. However, the rivalry is reap between Bhutia and Bhattacharya.
Date: April 17
Sitting MLA: Rudranath Bhattacharya (TMC)
Baichung Bhutia
Party: TMC
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TMC has cashed in on the 39-year-old soccer icon to take on the mighty Ashok Bhattacharya, former CPI(M) minister and current mayor of Siliguri. The alliance of resistance between CPI(M) and Congress started from Siliguri and was highly successful.
TMC In alliance with Congress, won Siliguri for the first time ever when its candidate Rudranath Bhattacharya beat four-time MLA from this seat Ashok Bhattacharya by 5,006 votes.
Strength: After joining politics, he has hardly been involved in any controversy and continues to enjoy the goody-good reputation. He has laid vehement attacks at the bigwigs of politics, including our current prime minister for not fulfilling his promises.
Weakness: Fame might not serve fruitful to the political novice as in 2014 Lok Sabha Election, he lost by a vast margin of 2,00,000 votes to BJP's SS Ahluwalia from Darjeeling constituency.
Moreover, Bhutia's surpise nomination in place of Rudranath Bhattacharya, scarred with scsitting MLA, has distressed local workers
Ashok Bhattacharya
Party: CPI(M)
Party: CPI(M)
The current mayor of Siliguri has won every election from this constituency since 1991. The 66-year-old was a key player in strategising the Left-Congress alliance to defeat the TMC, which further lead to continuation of the alliance in the current election.
Known as the ‘CM of North Bengal’ for his influence in the area, Bhattacharya has led the Left twice in blowing the TMC and his party seems confident in regaining their position after a gap of five years.
Strength: Mamata’s decision to field Baichung Bhutia will most likely back fire her, even on the Gorkhaland issue, and thus favour the four-time MLA.
Weakness: Faced biggest defeat in 2011. His involvement in the flyover collapse have batted several eyes on him.
Who will win? This coupled with the anti-incumbency wave and Bhattacharya’s vigorous strategies will most certainly rule in his favour.