Adhir Chowdhury focus on town, Yusuf Pathan tours villages
Times of India | 14 May 2024
BEHRAMPORE: The two main players in Behrampore took two different stands as they took their positions on the poll pitch on Monday morning. While Trinamool candidate and former Indian cricket team member Yusuf Pathan scored "quick singles" by visiting booths in Rejinagar, Belda and Nowda, Adir Chowdhury of the Congress spent most of his time guarding wicket in Behrampore Town.
Pathan said he was "a little nervous like before every big match". But people in the political circle found Chowdhury calm. Restricting himself to Behrampore Town, Chowdhury spent most of the day in the party office. "The Commission has redressed my grievances, so there is no need to go on the offensive," said the Congress veteran. At the end of the day, he held a press meet and announced he would win. "They tried their level best to defeat me but people voted for me. Casting false votes in a few booths will reduce my winning margin only by a few hundreds," Chowdhury said.
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His political opponent, Chowdhury, had already been up and about for an hour. "I can't sit in my office on receiving reports of hooliganism against my workers by Trinamool goons. If we don't stop them, they will loot the election," said a visibly agitated Chowhdury, who rushed out of his party office several times to respond to SOS calls from party workers.
On the other side of Behrampore, Pathan was rotating the strike successfully, hopping from one polling station to another. Everywhere, he was greeted by cheers of "Pathan eshechhe, Pathan eshechhe (Pathan has come)" from villagers. "The enthusiasm is contagious. Even before I entered a village, a crowd waited to receive me. I am sure of victory," said Pathan, who seemed to have won the heart of voters, if selfies are any measure of popularity. Villagers met him, bearing gifts-fruits and vegetables from their farms. "Yeh logon ka pyar hai. Inki mohabbat sar ankhon par (I am overwhelmed by the love of people here)," said Pathan. While he signed autographs, Chowdhury wrote to the EC and local administration against "electoral malpractices".
At the end of the day, the question on everybody's lips was who would win? "Pathan, beyond any doubt. His star power has won us over" was the response from one section of voters. But old-timers cautioned against early celebration. "Behrampore is not very kind to candidates coming from outside. Even Siddhartha Shankar Ray lost in 1996. The match is still open," said Ambrish Chatterjee, a resident of Behrampore who is in his 70s.