The constituency comprises Jangipur municipality, Raghunathganj I block, and Ahiran and Bansabati gram panchayats of Suti I block. Jangipur itself is a subdivision-level town and serves as the administrative headquarters of the subdivision. It lies on the banks of the Bhagirathi River and is home to the one km-long Jangipur Barrage, which regulates water flow between the Ganga and Bhagirathi rivers. The region also hosts two major thermal power plants: the 2,100 MW Farakka Super Thermal Power Station and the 1,600 MW Sagardighi Thermal Power Station, both of which contribute significantly to the state’s energy grid.
Jangipur had 265,229 registered voters in 2024, up from 255,064 in 2021. Turnout has remained steady, with 78.06 per cent in 2024, 77.78 per cent in 2021, 81.90 per cent in 2019, and 83.82 per cent in 2016. Muslim voters form 54.30 per cent of the electorate, while Scheduled Castes account for 23.05 per cent. The voter base is split between rural (55.07 per cent) and urban (44.93 per cent) populations.
Since 2011, the seat has seen a shift in political allegiance. In 2011, Congress veteran Md. Sohrab won with 68,699 votes, defeating CPI(M)’s Purnima Bhattacharya by 6,336 votes. The Trinamool Congress made its debut in 2016, with Jakir Hossain winning the seat by 20,633 votes over CPI(M)’s Somnath Singha Ray. Hossain retained the seat in 2021, securing 106,444 votes and defeating BJP’s Sujit Das, who polled 43,964 votes, by a massive margin of 92,480 votes. The RSP’s Jane Alam Mian came third with 39,067 votes.
However, the Lok Sabha elections have told a different story. In 2019, Trinamool led in the Jangipur Assembly segment by 18,644 votes. But in 2024, the BJP turned the tables, leading by 3,266 votes in the segment, signalling a potential shift in voter sentiment and suggesting that the 2026 Assembly contest may not be as one-sided as the previous one.
The beedi industry, small-scale manufacturing, and cross-border trade anchor Jangipur’s economy. Infrastructure is uneven. While Jangipur town has access to basic amenities, many villages in Raghunathganj and Suti blocks face challenges in road connectivity, healthcare and sanitation. Electricity coverage is widespread, but water supply remains inconsistent, especially in the summer months.
The nearest railway station is at Jangipur Road, connecting the constituency to Azimganj and Farakka. The district headquarters at Berhampore is about 40 km south, while the state capital Kolkata lies roughly 240 km away. Pakur in Jharkhand is 30 km west, Nalhati in Birbhum district is 32 km southwest, and Murshidabad town is 37 km southeast. Farakka, another key town with strategic infrastructure, is 42 km northwest. Rampurhat in Birbhum is 44 km south, while Rajmahal in Jharkhand is 68 km to the northwest.
Jangipur’s proximity to the Bangladesh border adds a layer of geopolitical relevance. Nawabganj in Rajshahi district lies just 25 km to the northeast, while Shibganj is 26 km away. Chapai Nababganj is about 29 km north of Jangipur. These towns are accessible via road and ferry routes across the Ganga and Bhagirathi rivers.
With the BJP gaining ground in the Lok Sabha segment and the Trinamool Congress holding the Assembly seat, Jangipur is poised for a keen contest in 2026. The outcome may hinge on local leadership, community mobilisation, and the ability of parties to address economic and infrastructural concerns that continue to influence voter priorities. The Left Front–Congress alliance could also influence the result, as unlike many other constituencies in West Bengal, they remain active in Jangipur, having polled 16.71 per cent of the vote in 2021 and 26.13 per cent in 2024.
(Ajay Jha)
