Crucial by-election campaign in Bengal ends

The campaigning for the crucial February 13 by-elections to two seats - one Lok Sabha and the other Assembly - ended today.
Eleven candidates are contesting the by-election in the Bongaon (SC) Lok Sabha seat in North 24-Paraganas district, bordering Bangladesh, while for the by-election to the Krishnaganj (SC) Assembly seat in Nadia district there are five candidates in fray.
The by-elections, which will be held in the shadow of the Saradha scam being investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, will tell the contesting parties about which way the wind is blowing before the crucial elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and about 80 municipalities across the state to be held in the middle of this year and the assembly polls to be held next year.

On a back foot after the Saradha scam exploded in its face, the Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of launching a political vendetta through the CBI probe.
While the TMC, backed by a strong organisational machinery is confident of retaining the two seats on the basis of what they claimed huge development work undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government, the BJP, which is gearing up to strengthen its party organisation, is equally hopeful.
The BJP, which secured 18 per cent vote share in the state in the last Lok Sabha polls and bagged two seats - Asansol and Darjeeling - is trying to change the political equations in the state, which till recently was polarised between the Left and the TMC.

Admitting that Congress was on a "weak wicket", West Bengal PCC President Adhir Chowdhury has said the party would be "fighting for its existence" in the February 13 by-elections in Bangaon Lok Sabha and Krishnaganj Assembly seats.
The CPI(M) which headed the Left Front government for three decades is trying to retrieve its lost position and is confident of good showing in the by-polls and wrest the seats from TMC.
The Bongaon parliamentary seat fell vacant after the death of the Trinamool Congress MP Kapil Krishna Thakur. His wife Mamata Bala Thakur has been nominated by TMC to contest from the seat.