Posters hailing veteran CPM leader Subhas Chakraborty, who died two months ago, have propped up in almost every nook and corner of the Belgachhia (East) Assembly constituency where bypolls will be held on November 10.

The minister’s wife, Romola Chakraborty, has been nominated by the CPM to contest the elections from the seat that fell vacant after Subhas’ demise.

Knowing it very well that Subhas’ name counts — he had represented the constituency for seven consecutive times — Romola’s campaign seems more about her husband and less about her own. One of her campaign posters at Nager Bazaar area in Dum Dum reads: “Subhas Chakraborty stood by you through thick and thin. We salute him.” Many more such posters dot the roadside in Lake Town, Bangur and Salt Lake, which fall under the Belgachhia (East) constituency.

While the image of Subhas dominates the posters, Romola is seen only in a few. Even when she is face-to-face with the voters, Romola seeks “blessings” by invoking her husband’s name.

“You took care of Subhasda. I am his wife. I seek your blessings,” she tells voters.

Romola, who used to be by her husband’s side in previous poll campaigns, knows that this time the fight is tough. Pitted against Sujit Bose of Trinamool Congress, once a close friend of Subhas who left the CPM for the Trinamool in 2005, Romola is leaving no stone unturned and also has no qualms in admitting that she depends a lot on the Subhas magic.

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