Stage set for tough fight in Durgapur 1

Durgapur, Apr 30 (UNI) With five candidates in fray, 'Durgapur no 1' constituency is all set to witness a tough fight between West Bengal Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee and Congress candidate Bangsibadan Karmakar in the fourth phase of elections in the state on May 3.

In the last Assembly Elections, Mr Banerjee won from the constituency by a margin of 9926 votes.

Both Mr Banerjee and Mr Karmakar have adopted a different style of campaigning.

While Mr Karmakar has adopted a door-to-door campaigning strategy, Mr Banerjee is preferring street corner meetings.

Mr Karmakar alleged that Mr Banerjee termed as the ''man of work'' was never seen after the elections were over.

The Congress has taken up the issues of scarcity of water and electricity in Ichapur, Sarpi and Laudoha area in the summer to win the elections this time. ''I have made the water and electricity problems as the main weapons to win the elections against Mr Banerjee,'' Mr Karmakar said.

However, a confident Mr Banerjee shot back by saying, ''We do not care about others speeches and reports. The state government is fighting on the reforms plank and people will surely chose the ruling coalition to carry forward the work they are already doing.'' Mr Banerjee, who resigned from Durgapur Steel Plant in 1996, is well known among the working class. Pitched in the election field following resignation, Mr Banerjee had proved to be a successful pawn for the ruling coalition in this industrial township.

On the other hand, Mr Karmakar, who retired from Alstom India, was nominated as the Congress candidate in this election making it a battle between a newcommer and a veteran.

With both sides geared up to meet eachother in the battle of ballots, the constituency is set to see a neck to neck contest this time.

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