Over the course of 18 Assembly elections, including the 2024 by-election, Raiganj has largely been a stronghold of the Congress party. The party won 10 times, including a remarkable run of five consecutive victories between 1996 and 2016. These wins came even during the height of CPI(M)’s dominance in the state and continued into the early years of Trinamool Congress’s rule. However, the tide turned in 2021 when the BJP made its debut in the constituency, with Krishna Kalyani defeating Trinamool’s Kanaia Lal Agarwal by 20,748 votes. Agarwal, a well-known businessman, had switched from Trinamool to BJP just before the polls, only to return to Trinamool after winning. His defection triggered a by-election in 2024, which he won convincingly as a Trinamool candidate, defeating BJP’s Manas Kumar Ghosh by 50,077 votes, thus marking Trinamool’s first-ever victory in Raiganj.
Interestingly, despite Krishna Kalyani’s victory in the 2024 by-election as a Trinamool Congress candidate, the BJP continued to dominate the Raiganj Assembly segment in Lok Sabha contests. In both 2019 and 2024, Kalyani was fielded by the Trinamool Congress for the Raiganj parliamentary seat, but the BJP led by 42,202 votes in 2019 and widened its lead to 46,739 votes in 2024.
Raiganj had 198,780 registered voters in 2021, which rose to 207,098 in 2024. Scheduled Castes made up 24.32 per cent of the electorate, while Scheduled Tribes accounted for 2.31 per cent. In 2021, the constituency had 59.84 per cent urban voters and 40.16 per cent rural voters. Voter turnout has consistently been robust, with 83.47 per cent in 2016, 81.43 per cent in 2021, 79.86 per cent in 2019 and 77.19 per cent in 2024. The numbers suggest that Raiganj voters are more enthusiastic during Assembly elections than in parliamentary polls.
Geographically, Raiganj is situated on the banks of the Kulik River, which not only adds to the town’s scenic charm but also supports local agriculture. The terrain is flat and part of the fertile alluvial plains of North Bengal. The region is prone to seasonal flooding, especially during the monsoon, due to its proximity to Himalayan-fed rivers like the Mahananda and Kulik.
Raiganj’s economy is primarily agrarian, with paddy, jute and mustard being the main crops. The town has modest industrial activity, mostly in agro-processing and small-scale manufacturing. One of the more prominent industrial establishments is Kalyani Solvex Ltd., owned by local MLA Krishna Kalyani. The company produces cooking oil and contributes to the region’s agro-based economy. The Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kulik Bird Sanctuary, is a notable ecological landmark and draws visitors during the migratory season.
Infrastructure in Raiganj is relatively developed, with a railway station connecting it to major cities and a growing network of roads. However, healthcare and higher education facilities remain limited, prompting many to travel to Siliguri or Malda for specialised services.
Raiganj’s rise as a prominent town began in the years following the Partition of India. Prior to 1947, it was a modest village under the Dinajpur Maharaja’s administration and served as a bandar, a riverine trading hub for nearby villages. The Partition disrupted traditional trade routes and administrative links, prompting Raiganj to chart its own course of development. Its transformation gathered pace over the decades, culminating in its designation as the district headquarters when Uttar Dinajpur was carved out in 1992.
Raiganj is located approximately 425 km from Kolkata, the state capital. It is about 110 km from Siliguri, 75 km from Malda, and 45 km from Dalkhola. The town is close to the Bihar border, with Kishanganj just 35 km away. Bangladesh lies to the east, with the border town of Radhikapur only 25 km from Raiganj.
As the 2026 Assembly elections draw closer, Raiganj is poised for a straight and intense face-off between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The Congress, once the dominant force here, now finds itself reduced to a marginal player, its presence more symbolic than strategic. Ironically, a revival of the Congress would suit the BJP, as it could split the anti-BJP vote and weaken the Trinamool’s prospects. But that remains a distant possibility. In such a fluid and unpredictable scenario, the seat is wide open. With shifting loyalties and no clear frontrunner, Raiganj is likely to witness a fierce electoral contest where even seasoned pollsters may struggle to call the outcome.
(Ajay Jha)
