Kolkata: Netas get into campaign mode on first Sunday after list announcement – Times of India

Kolkata: Some went for shopping at local markets, some went to meet morning walkers at local parks and even played football and badminton with young voters, while some others visited the highrises or went for traditional door-to-door visits. TMC and Left candidates across the city reached out to voters on the first Sunday after the announcement of candidates.
Former councillor and borough chairman Sushanta Ghosh, who is contesting from a new ward, started the day early. He went to markets and popular joints across Kalilapur and other areas before visiting two complexes — Happy Nook and Rail Vihar. “The plan is simple. Meet the voters and get to know their pain points. And no time is better than a Sunday morning for that,” said Ward 108’s TMC candidate Ghosh.
Bhowanipore’s Ward 70 candidate Asim Basu had singer and former BJP minister Babul Supriyo by his side as he campaigned among local clubs playing football with young voters. Mamata Banerjee got 1,700-vote lead from this ward in the bypoll — for the first time in three elections. “Our party’s slogan is Khela Hobe and there is no better way to kick off a campaign than with an early-morning game of football,” said Babul.
Beliaghata MLA and veteran leader Paresh Pal, who had lost the civic election from Ward 29 in 2015, was back with fresh zeal while campaigning from a new ward — Ward 31 — as he visited multiple local clubs, playing badminton and carom with the members. “Everyone knows me here and I know all of them. I don’t need to campaign only during the election,” said Pal.
While some TMC poll veterans like Debasis Kumar, Mala Roy and Debabrata Majumdar went from door to door, meeting voters in Garcha first Lane or Dover Terrace and Tollygunge, Atin Ghosh started his day from Hatibagan. “The puja committees and local clubs have have been putting up flex, banners and distributing leaflets for me. That leaves me with some time to campaign for other candidates,” said Ghosh.
Outgoing mayor Firhad Hakim was on the road in Chetla with his daughter Priyadarshini. A large group of supporters, wearing masks with Hakim’s photograph, were with them. “I keep in touch with voters in my area all through the year. But still I take these campaigns very seriously as it gives us an opportunity to take note of their grievances,” said Hakim.
For the CPM, several wards in Behala saw the party cadres finishing “walling” for its candidates at several places. Wards 126 and 127 are presently held by the CPM. Many old timers remembered the times when the party never lost from these seats. “The issues in KMC elections are more local and the battle will be different,” said a senior CPM leader. The Left Front has also enlisted a number of Red Volunteers. “During Covid, we, the red volunteers were on the road helping people. People wouldn’t forget that,” said Ward 123 candidate Prasenjit Mukherjee.
Congress leaders like Prakash Upadhyay and Santosh Pathak were also on the road reaching out to people on Sunday morning. “At ward 29, none can beat me,” said Upadhyay, who had won the last two elections from this ward.
(With inputs from Dwaipayan Ghosh)