Sagardighi Assembly Election 2024

Sagardighi has largely mirrored the political mood of the state. It remained loyal to the Congress party during its early dominance, with Congress winning six of the first seven elections. The Bangla Congress broke this streak in 1969. From 1977 onwards, the CPI(M)-led Left Front took over, winning all seven elections during its 34-year rule in the state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) ended the Left’s dominance in 2011, with Subrata Saha defeating CPI(M)’s Ismail Sekh by 4,574 votes. Saha retained the seat in 2016, narrowly defeating Aminul Islam of Congress by 5,214 votes, while the CPI(M) slipped to third place. In 2021, Saha won his third term with a much larger margin of 50,206 votes over the BJP’s Khatun Mafuja.

Saha’s untimely death led to the 2023 by-election, where Congress, backed by the Left Front, reclaimed the seat with Bayron Biswas defeating TMC’s Debasish Bandopadhyay by 22,986 votes. However, soon after his victory, Biswas switched over to the TMC, making the 2026 contest even more complex. The TMC further strengthened its position in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, leading the Sagardighi segment by 31,773 votes over the Congress-Left alliance.

Sagardighi had 236,885 registered voters in 2021, up from 206,049 in 2016. According to the 2011 Census, Muslim voters formed the majority at 63.50 per cent, followed by Scheduled Castes at 18.78 per cent and Scheduled Tribes at 6.38 per cent. The constituency is entirely rural, with no urban voters, and has consistently recorded high voter turnout, often around 80 per cent. Interestingly, despite being a Muslim-majority seat, no Muslim candidate has ever won here.

Geographically, Sagardighi lies in the central part of Murshidabad district, which borders Bangladesh to the east and shares boundaries with Birbhum and Nadia districts. The terrain is mostly flat and fertile, with the Bhagirathi River flowing nearby, supporting agriculture and irrigation. The region is known for paddy, jute, and mustard cultivation. Sagardighi also has a thermal power station, which contributes to local employment and infrastructure development.

The nearest major town is Jangipur, located about 25 km away, while Berhampore, the district headquarters, lies roughly 50 km to the south. The state capital, Kolkata, is around 220 km away and is accessible by road and rail. Historically, Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal during the Mughal era, and Sagardighi shares in this legacy with its name believed to be derived from a large tank or “dighi” built by a local ruler.

As the 2026 elections approach, all eyes will be on how Sagardighi voters respond if Bayron Biswas, now with the TMC, is fielded again. The constituency has already shown that the Congress-Left Front alliance is acceptable to them, while the BJP is also expected to push hard to capture the seat. While it is difficult to predict the winner, one thing is certain: Sagardighi is headed for a close and intriguing multi-cornered contest. 

(Ajay Jha)