The Lok Sabha seat had to lose two Assembly segments, both Cong strongholds, but the minister is counting on his work

It is delimitation woes versus Pranab Mukherjee’s image that is playing out at Jangipur constituency, where the external affairs minister and Congress veteran is seeking re-election in the Lok Sabha. After delimitation, Jangipur lost two key Assembly segments — both Congress strongholds — one reason why the stalwart is campaigning non-stop for a second term from here. 

Interestingly, his opponent, CPM candidate Mriganka Bhattacharjee, is banking heavily on the changed arithmetic following the delimitation of Jangipur constituency and sees a flicker of hope.

The two Assembly segments that were ceded from Jangipur are Farakka and Shamshergunj (new Assembly segment). Farakka had been with the Congress for 18 years. Apart from a Congress-ruled Panchayat Samity, 8 out of 9 Gram Panchayats in the segment are ruled by the Congress. The two Zilla Parishad seats there were also won by the Congress in the recent Panchayat elections.

In Samshergunj too, the Panchayat Samity is ruled by the Congress, which also holds 7 out of 10 Gram Panchayat seats. The two Zilla parishad seats are also held by the Congress. After the delimitation, these two areas have now gone to Malda South.

At present, the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Assembly segments — Aurangabad, Suti, Jangipur, Sagardighi, Nabagram, Khargram and Lalgola, the last one added after the delimitation.

Except Lalgola, all other Assembly constituencies in Jangipur are ruled by the Left. While Jangipur and Suti have sitting RSP MLAs, Sagardighi, Nabagram, Khargram and Aurangabad have CPM MLAs.

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