Opposition is invisible in Tamluk: BJP’s Abhijit Gangopadhyay

NEW DELHI: The state-ruling party TMC has fielded Debangshu Bhattacharya, CPM Sayan Banerjee, while the BJP has fielded former Calcutta HC Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

As the first phase of the elections gets over, all parties are now gearing up for the second phase, due on April 26, 2024. With just a few days left for the second phase of the election, all the candidates of different parties have intensified their election campaigns to woo the voters.

Tamluk is one of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal, which will go to the polls in the sixth phase, i.e., on May 25, and the result will be declared on June 4.

Tamluk has witnessed an extremely high-octane election pitch. The constituency had three high-profile candidates from the TMC, CPI (M), and BJP. The state-ruling party TMC has fielded Debangshu Bhattacharya against the CPI(M)’s Sayan Banerjee, while the BJP has fielded former Calcutta High Court judge, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay (Retd).

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, Gangopadhyay, who joined politics days before the announcement of his candidature, said that the saffron party will win in Tamluk in absence of strong opposition.

Q: When did you decide to join politics?

A: There is a small story behind that. I was on leave for a week, and by the end of the seventh day, the BJP approached me through some common friends and that’s how we managed to have a successful dialogue for the first time. Subsequently, I decided to resign from the post of judge, and it was a matter of maximum four days before I decided to join the politics.

Q: What is your future plan for Tamluk?

A: If I come to power, I will endeavour to eradicate unemployment not only in Tamluk, but in entire West Bengal as well with the help of some medium-sized and big industries. In case I am not elected, then I will opt for politics as my full-time career. I have similar plans for Haldia also.

Q: How will you take on the challenges of opposition?

A: As of now, I have not found any challenge from the opposition. The opposition is almost invisible in Tamluk, and it is certain that the BJP will win the election.

Q: Did the PM call you after the BJP announced you as their candidate?

A: No, as of now, I haven’t received any calls from Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Q: How many seats will the BJP win in Bengal?

A: In Bengal, I would say the BJP will win more than 25 seats and it is for sure that the tally would be higher than what it was in 2019.