Is Trinamool on the Verge of a Landslide Victory in Kaliganj?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress is leading significantly in the Kaliganj bypoll.
- Alifa Ahmed's lead has expanded beyond 30,000 votes.
- The contest for second place is tight between BJP and Congress.
- Security measures are stringent at the counting center.
- Kaliganj has a significant Muslim voter demographic.
Kolkata, June 23 (NationPress) Trinamool Congress is set to achieve a significant victory in the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll located in Nadia district of West Bengal, as party candidate Alifa Ahmed continues to expand her lead as the counting unfolds.
After the completion of the 12th counting round, Ahmed amassed 56,404 votes, boosting her lead margin to 30,967 votes. Her nearest competitor, BJP’s Ashish Ghosh, received 25,437 votes, while Congress candidate Kabil Uddin Shaikh, supported by the Left Front, trailed closely with 18,770 votes.
The bypoll has witnessed a competitive race between the BJP and Congress for the second position, while TMC appears to be on the path to a clear triumph. A total of 23 counting rounds are planned.
Remarkably, Alifa Ahmed’s current vote count has already exceeded the total votes of her BJP and Congress opponents combined. Current trends indicate she may surpass the winning margin achieved by her late father, Nasiruddin Ahmed, the former TMC MLA from Kaliganj, whose unexpected passing in February at the age of 70 prompted this by-election.
In the previous 2021 Assembly elections, Nasiruddin Ahmed secured the Kaliganj seat with a margin of 45,987 votes, defeating BJP’s Abhijit Ghosh.
Kaliganj is characterized as a minority-majority constituency, with Muslim voters representing nearly 60 percent of the electorate.
Counting commenced at 8 a.m. on Monday at Panighata High School, starting with the postal ballots. The postal ballots have been fully counted, and the counting of EVM votes is currently in progress.
Security at the counting facility is stringent, featuring a three-tier arrangement. Only personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are stationed in the innermost security perimeter, which is located inside the two counting halls.
Each hall includes eight counting tables. The final results are anticipated to be declared in the afternoon.