Resentment against the ex-CPM MLA, TMC’s corruption and Sanyukta Morcha’s comprehensive plan for wage rate fixing for the local tailors, who are present in large numbers in this constituency, may influence voters in the seat.
Trinamool Congress supporter during West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rally during Nandigram Diwas, in Kolkata.
Traditionally, a stronghold of the Left, Basirhat North is witnessing a battle between the Sanyukta Morcha candidate and former CPM MLA who defected to the Trinamool Congress two months ago.
Resentment against the ex-CPM MLA, TMC’s corruption and Sanyukta Morcha’s comprehensive plan for wage rate fixing for the local tailors, who are present in large numbers in this constituency, may influence voters in the seat.
Sitting MLA Rafiqul Islam was a popular face in the locality. Despite Mamata Banerjee coming to power in 2011, Rafiqul had won on a CPM ticket from the seat. He won it again in 2016.
“People are unhappy with the TMC candidate as he has ditched the Left,” Inayat Hossain, a local resident, said.
The Sanyukta Morcha ISF candidate, Baijid Amin, also said that there is big resentment against the TMC candidate. “People had thought that he would fight on a morcha ticket but he left the party at the last moment,” Amin said.
However, Amin said his main target is to achieve regular employment generation for the people, who are skilled tailors and majority of them work in small units in the area.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Ensuring fixed rate of payment, fixed income, small loans and regular work throughout the year for the tailors are certain issues that we want to focus on. People in this area work largely as tailors in small units run by local businessmen,” Amin said .
It often happens that the demand for stitching work is low and the people’s work dwindles and pay becomes irregular. “The rates vary when order supplies are low and we cannot negotiate the rates as we need work,” said Sayeda Momin, who runs her family by doing tailoring work.
According to rough estimates, every booth has two-three units. Women and young men work in these small factories in large numbers and that is the main profession of the people in this Constituency. Out of 13 areas in Basirhat North, in 9 areas, Amlani, Bhedia, Murarisha and Makalgachha, have tailoring units where stitching and preparing readymade clothes are done.
“Our candidate Rafiqul Islam is a very popular man here and the standing MLA also. People know he has worked for the people. We are hopeful that he will win,” Safiqul Islam, a tea-stall owner in Basirhat market and a TMC worker, said. TMC candidate Rafiqul Islam, who has won for two terms, is also confident about his victory.
