Among the key constituencies going to poll in the first phase of the West Bengal elections is Kharagpur, which is currently held by Trinamool Congress MLA Dinen Roy, who defeated SK Sajahan Ali of the CPI(M) in 2016. The seat, one of West Bengal’s 293 assembly constituencies, falls under the Medinipur Lok Sabha constituency – held by BJP parliamentarian Dilip Kumar Ghosh, who defeated Manas Ranjan Bhunia of the Trinamool Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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This equation makes it a seat to watch out for. The top BJP leader from the state has used all his might to bring all-star campaigners including PM Narendra Modi to the campaign for the party in this constituency. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool is also pushing hard to make a point that when it comes to the state, they dominate the region.

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Before 2011, the Kharagpur seat was the stronghold of the CPI(M), as Nazmul Haque won at a stretch starting from 1987 before electing Trinamool Congress candidate Dinen Roy in 2016.

Although Mamata Banerjee still remains West Bengal’s tallest leader even after 10 years in power, the major setback in the 2019 Lok Sabha election has hit the ruling party hard. The Trinamool could manage to win only 22 out of the State’s 42 Lok Sabha seats, 12 less than in the previous election. Mamata Banerjee is not just fighting the surge of the BJP but also the anti-incumbency.

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The chief minister has on several occasions publicised the development work in the districts, but local issues and the alleged high-handedness of grassroots leaders has hit the party.