Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency voted in the third phase on April 23 Here is a breakdown of how the candidates fared.
After a neck and neck fight, Sukantu Mazumdar of BJP emerged victorious. He has won by 33293 votes against TMC's Arpita Ghosh.
At 11.20 AM, Arpita Ghosh of TMC currently ahead
At 10.30 AMSukantu Mazumdar of BJP ahead in four-way fight.
Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency profile:
Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal is witnessing a classic-four cornered race. Sitting MP Arpita Ghosh has been re-nominated much to the displeasure of local district leadership.
Theatre artist turned activist turned politician Arpita Ghosh spent very little time in her constituency in the last five years, something Ghosh and her mentor Mamata Banerjee is finding great difficulty in explaining. The district TMC head Biplab Mitra publicly expressed dissent when Ghosh's candidature was announced, a rarity in TMC. Also Balurghat is one of the few pockets where TMC did poorly in 2016 Assembly elections compared to 2014 Lok Saha polls. Whereas TMC had a lead of over a lakh in 2014, it narrowed down to 6,000 if we compile the result of all the assembly segments under Balurghat. It needs to be remembered that Congress and Left contested together in 2016.
Hence TMC heaved a sigh of relief when the Left and Congress failed to reach a seat sharing deal. A joint candidate would have made Arpita Ghosh's life extremely difficult. Arpita's challengers include Ronen Barman of RSP, Sukantu Mazumdar of BJP and Abdus Sadek of Congress.
Historically, this has been a RSP fort for very long. The party has been winning Balurghat since 1977 and Arpita Ghosh broke the streak. First Palash Burman five times and later Ranen Burman four times have won from this seat. Before that Congress had won five of the six times since 1952. Still neither of them separately may run TMC close in Balurghat.
BJP has roped in academic Sukanta Mazumdar with a strong Sangh connection here. He has upped the ante raising the issue of illegal infiltration and unkept promises like Hili- Balurghat railway station in the campaign trail. BJP is energised by the panchayat election result, when the party gained ground in Balurghat. With PM Modi canvassing for Sukanta, an upset can't be ruled out particularly since there is no surety that Arpita will get support of entire rank adn file of TMC cadres. The assembly segments under Balurghat are Itahar,Kushmandi,Kumarganj Balurghat, Tapan,Gangarampur, Harirampur. 14.27 lakh voters can exercise their democratic rights on April 23.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Arpita Ghosh losing")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}