Falakata Assembly Election 2024

During the phase it was an open seat, Falakata witnessed 13 elections. The CPI(M) held the seat for seven consecutive terms between 1977 and 2006, coinciding with the Left Front’s rule in the state. The Congress won four times, while the Praja Socialist Party claimed two victories. Jagadananda Roy remains a notable figure, having represented Falakata five times, twice for the PSP and thrice for the Congress.

The first election as a reserved seat in 2011 saw Trinamool Congress’s Anil Adhikari defeat CPI(M)’s Rabindra Nath Barman by 8,046 votes. BJP was a distant third with just 6 per cent of the vote. Adhikari retained the seat in 2016 with an increased margin of 16,839 votes, while the BJP’s vote share rose to 15.48 per cent. Following Adhikari’s death in 2019, Trinamool fielded Subhash Chandra Roy in 2021, but BJP’s Dipak Barman clinched the seat by 3,990 votes. CPI(M)’s Kshitish Chandra Ray slipped to third, polling just 4.89 per cent.
The BJP’s rise began in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where it led the Trinamool by 27,070 votes in the Falakata segment. Though the lead narrowed to 8,966 votes in 2024, the party retained its edge.

Falakata had 254,554 registered voters in 2021, up from 244,073 in 2019, 247,176 in 2016, and 189,459 in 2011. The sharp increase in voter numbers between 2011 and 2021 may be attributed to migration or improved enrolment. As per 2011 data, Scheduled Castes comprised 41.98 per cent of the electorate, Scheduled Tribes 15.54 per cent, and Muslims 15.10 per cent. The constituency is predominantly rural, with 85.17 per cent of voters residing in villages and 14.83 per cent in urban pockets. Voter turnout has consistently remained high at 86.58 per cent in 2011, 87.13 per cent in 2016, 85.51 per cent in 2019, and 86.64 per cent in 2021.

Falakata lies in the Dooars region, known for its flat terrain, fertile alluvial soil, and proximity to the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. The area is interspersed with rivers such as the Mujnai, Jaldhaka, and Torsha, which support agriculture and often flood during monsoons. The region is surrounded by forests, including the Khairbari and Titi Reserved Forests. It is close to the Jaldapara National Park, a major tourist attraction known for its one-horned rhinoceroses.

Tea gardens dot the landscape, contributing to the local economy alongside agriculture. Paddy, jute, and vegetables are the main crops. The Kunjanagar Eco-Park near Falakata is a popular destination for nature lovers. Infrastructure is modest, with road and rail connectivity to nearby towns. Falakata is about 30 km from Alipurduar town, the district headquarters. Other nearby towns include Madarihat at 20 km, Birpara at 25 km, and Hasimara at 35 km. The state capital, Kolkata, is approximately 650 km away. The constituency borders the Jalpaiguri district to the west and shares proximity with Assam and Bhutan. Assam towns like Bongaigaon at 110 km and Kokrajhar at 95 km are accessible, while Phuentsholing in Bhutan lies about 90 km to the northeast.

While the BJP appears comfortably perched on the top with its recent strides and its growing popularity amongst the Scheduled Caste voters across the country, Trinamool Congress’s progress is hampered due to Muslims not being a dominant force in this constituency. However, all is not lost for it, since the significant drop in the BJP’s lead in the Falakata segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has opened up the doors for the Trinamool Congress. The Left Front-Congress alliance, forced to the margins, is unlikely to make a drastic revival and significantly impact the outcome; if it does, it will likely pull down the Trinamool and help the BJP.

(Ajay Jha)