Since its establishment in 1951, the constituency has seen several reorganisations. Initially known as Uluberia, it was split into Uluberia South and Uluberia North in 1962. After the Delimitation exercise of 2011, these became Uluberia Dakshin and Uluberia Uttar with revised boundaries.
The All India Forward Bloc was the dominant force here for most Assembly elections between 1962 and 2006, winning eight out of 12 times in Uluberia South. The seat also saw wins by Congress, an Independent and the CPI(M). With the formation of Uluberia Dakshin in 2011, the Trinamool Congress established a clear hold, with Pulak Roy, a minister in the state government, clinching three consecutive wins. Roy defeated Forward Bloc’s Kutubuddin Ahmed in 2011 by 11,832 votes, then increased the margin to 35,344 in 2016 over Forward Bloc’s Md. Nasiruddin. In 2021, Roy prevailed by 28,438 votes against the BJP's Papia Dey, with Forward Bloc in a distant third position.
The Trinamool Congress has similarly dominated in Lok Sabha elections, steadily increasing its lead in the Uluberia Dakshin segment. In 2024, the party led by 33,133 votes, up from 24,947 in 2019. The BJP has gradually replaced the Left as the principal challenger since the 2019 parliamentary polls.
Uluberia Dakshin had 248,514 registered voters in 2024, up from 237,620 in 2021 and 226,430 in 2019. Muslims comprise 35.6 per cent of voters in 2021, with Scheduled Castes accounting for 23.51 per cent. The seat is predominantly rural, with only about 10.20 per cent urban voters. Voter turnout remains robust, exceeding 80 per cent. Assembly polls draw particularly high participation with 85.16 per cent in 2021, 85.38 per cent in 2016, and 85.36 per cent in 2011, while Lok Sabha elections see turnout dip by about five points (80.54 per cent in 2024; 81.83 per cent in 2019). This hints at the belief among voters that their preferred party, the Trinamool Congress, is less likely to influence national politics from the opposition benches.
Uluberia Dakshin is located in the fertile lower Hooghly basin. The terrain is flat and largely alluvial, with the Hooghly River and its distributaries supporting both settlements and widespread agriculture. Frequent flooding during the monsoon is common, enriching the soil but also posing risks to crops and homes in low-lying areas. The area’s agricultural output centres on paddy, jute, vegetables, and pulses, benefiting from both natural fertility and canal irrigation. Fish farming in ponds and water bodies supplements rural incomes, especially in and around Uluberia I block.
Industry and trade are present near urbanised sections. Residents find employment in nearby jute and cotton units, small-scale industries, logistics and warehousing, as well as in Kolkata’s extended industrial belt. Artisan activities, zari work, shuttlecock making, and rubber goods add diversity to local incomes.
Uluberia Dakshin’s infrastructure reflects its peri-urban setting. State and district roads connect it to Uluberia town, Howrah (27 km) and Kolkata (33 km). Uluberia Railway Station, less than a kilometre from Uluberia I and the constituency boundary, links the region to South Eastern Railway’s busy Kolkata–Kharagpur line. Nearby towns include Panchla (9 km), Budge Budge (13 km, across the Hooghly by ferry), Howrah (27 km), and Kolkata’s Alipore area (27 km). Adjoining districts are South 24 Parganas (via the river) and East Medinipur (about 30 km to Tamluk). Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is about 44 km away.
With the Trinamool Congress’s overwhelming dominance in Uluberia Dakshin across all major elections, and the BJP’s challenge still nascent, the ruling party heads into the 2026 polls as a strong favourite. The Left Front-Congress alliance poses little threat, continuing to struggle to garner even five per cent of the vote since their 2021 alignment, leaving the contest open for another likely Trinamool Congress victory barring a local-level upset.
(Ajay Jha)
