Kolkata, 24 April (H.S.) : The Chowringhee Assembly constituency in Kolkata has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Former Congress leader and ex-Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Santosh Pathak, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, has been fielded by the party from the seat, making the contest highly significant.

The Trinamool Congress has once again nominated its sitting MLA Naina Bandyopadhyay, a two-time legislator and wife of senior TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay. While the ruling party is confident of retaining the constituency, the BJP is making an aggressive push to wrest it.

In an exclusive conversation with Hindusthan Samachar, BJP candidate Santosh Pathak claimed that not only Chowringhee, but the entire state is heading for political change and the Trinamool Congress is set to lose power.

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People Troubled by Corruption and Poor Law and Order

Asked why voters of Chowringhee should support him, Pathak said people across Bengal are prepared to vote for the BJP this time. He alleged that corruption has peaked under the Trinamool government, administrative systems have weakened, and law and order has deteriorated badly.

He said the people of the state have endured the situation for years and now want change. According to him, voters have decided to remove the ruling party from power.

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Hits Back on ‘Outsider’ Charge

Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s repeated charge that the BJP is an outsider party, Pathak launched a sharp counterattack. He said the Trinamool itself gave tickets in Asansol to leaders such as Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Azad, who are not from Bengal.

He further alleged that several Rajya Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress also have no direct connection with Bengal. Therefore, he said, calling the BJP an outsider party is mere political theatre.

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Serious Allegations Against Rajeev Kumar

Pathak also targeted former West Bengal Director General of Police and current Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Kumar. He alleged that Kumar was among the most corrupt officers in the country.

According to Pathak, he played a major role in protecting corruption involving Trinamool leaders and destroying evidence, and was later rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat.

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Personal Attack on Mamata Banerjee

Making a personal remark on the Chief Minister, Pathak said he has known Mamata Banerjee personally and that she had visited his house in earlier years. He alleged that she is deeply theatrical and practices politics of symbolism and display.

He claimed that the public now understands what he described as false promises and political drama, and will vote her out this time.

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BJP Manifesto Will Change Bengal’s Direction

Pathak said the BJP’s election manifesto offers a roadmap for Bengal’s future. He pointed out that the party governs 13 states in the country, which he described as examples of good governance.

He said similar transformation would be visible in Bengal if the BJP forms the government, adding that if change does not happen now, the condition of the state could worsen further.

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Promises for Women and Youth

The BJP candidate said that if his party comes to power, women would receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000. He also promised free travel for women in public transport services run by the government.

For youth, he said the party would provide Rs 15,000 as support for preparation of competitive examinations and Rs 3,000 monthly allowance until employment is secured.

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Double Engine Government Benefit

Pathak said a BJP government in Bengal would ensure that people receive full benefits of both state and central welfare schemes. He claimed that a double engine government would accelerate development.

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Bengal Deprived of Ayushman Bharat

He alleged that while people across the country are benefiting from the Ayushman Bharat health scheme and receiving free treatment for serious illnesses in private hospitals, the people of West Bengal have been deprived of it.

He further said the state’s Swasthya Sathi scheme is merely cosmetic and does not provide adequate healthcare support.

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Big Claim on Jobs and Industry

Pathak said Bengal’s industrial decline has become a national concern and many youths are forced to migrate to other states for work.

He claimed that if the BJP forms the government, one crore jobs would be created, industries would be promoted, and Bengal would once again become “Sonar Bangla.”

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Wave of Change from Chowringhee to Bengal

Pathak said voters in Chowringhee are strongly in favour of change. He alleged that sitting MLA Naina Bandyopadhyay has never stood with people in their joys and hardships and remains inaccessible to common citizens.

He asserted that this election is not only about changing a government but about changing Bengal’s future, and predicted that the BJP would come to power in the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh