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.

In Lalgola, though the Congress won the Assembly seat, the Panchayat Samity is ruled by the CPM, which did well there in the recent Panchayat elections.

Mukherjee, however, is undeterred and is banking on the developmental work he has carried out in his constituency. “Losing Congress strongholds due to delimitation will not be a factor. I will get votes from people. Our party has got more than 50 per cent votes in the panchayat and I expect I will get their blessings,” said the Congress leader.

His opponent Bhattacharjee, who is also the chairman of Jangipur municipality, agreed the delimitation might give him an edge, but was quick to point out Mukherjee’s stature as a note of caution. “It is true that delimitation has worked in our favour, but we are not depending on it entirely for winning. We have our traditional mass base. We also made good progress in the panchayat elections here and the Congress lost a number of seats. However, it is true we have to fight Mukherjee’s high-profile image,” he said.

Pranab goes online
Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today inaugurated his website www. pranabmukherjee.in. where the viewers can have direct interaction with him. There is also a video gallery and interviews of the minister along with his personal profile and details of his political career. Asked if mother of Kasab, the lone terrorist captured during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, is coming to India, he said: “Officially, there is no information regarding any relative from Pakistan coming here.”