West Bengal: TMC Fields Sitting MP Khalilur Rahaman From Beedi Hub Jangipur (image-X/khalilurMP)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has nominated its sitting MP, Khalilur Rahaman, from the Lok Sabha constituency of Jangipur in West Bengal. According to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), about nine lakh beedi workers come from Jangipur.

In 2021, sitting MP Khalilur Rahaman appealed to the central government to improve the central hospital built in Jangipur by the Modi government. He complained that although the hospital started off with eight doctors, X-ray facilities, ECG technology, and a free pharmacy, the hospital’s condition was debilitating. The hospital only has two doctors, with no radiologist, a faulty ECG machine, and a pharmacy that was supposed to be free but lacks basic medications. Rahaman requested the centre during the zero hour in Parliament to think of the beedi workers of Jangipur and provide the necessary facilities for the hospital.

In 2023, singer Arijit Singh announced that he would build a hospital at his own expense in Jangipur, Murshidabad. Singh hails from Jiaganj in Murshidabad. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her support and directed the state and Murshidabad administration to help him in his endeavour.

In the 2004 and 2009 general elections, the former president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, won the Jangipur seat with a significant majority on a Congress ticket. In the 2012 by-elections, Mukherjee’s son and Congress candidate, Abhijit Mukherjee, took over the mantle, winning the next general elections as well with 3.7 lakh votes.

However, Abhijit Mukherjee lost the elections against TMC’s Khalilur Rahaman and secured victory, a first for the party, with an overwhelming 5.6 lakh votes. Mukherjee could only secure 2.5 lakh votes, coming up in the third position.

The Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency has around 63.2 percent Muslim voters, 16.3 percent SC voters, and around 2 percent ST voters. The Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency comprises Vidhan Sabhas including Suti, Raghunathganj, Sagardighi, Lalgola, Nabagram (SC reserved), and Khargram (SC reserved). Since 1967, two major political parties, such as the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), have held the Lok Sabha seat over the years. But TMC made its entry in 2019 with Khalilur Rahaman’s victory.

Rahaman is a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Bijni College Gauhati University in 1990.