Actor-TMC Leader Dev Triumphs in Ghatal for Third Term Amidst Rivalry

In a significant political event, Dipak Adhikari, widely known by his stage name Dev, secured his third consecutive victory in the Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency, marking a notable moment in the political landscape. The actor-turned-politician faced stiff competition from fellow Bengali actor Hiran Chatterjee, who is the MLA of Kharagpur Sadar. Additionally, the Congress-supported CPI candidate in the fray was Tapan Ganguly. The final vote count, which concluded on Tuesday midnight, saw Dev triumphing over his nearest competitor, Chatterjee, by a substantial margin of over 1,82,868 votes.

The election battle was not without its controversies and personal attacks, particularly from Dev's rival. Despite expressing a desire to distance himself from electoral politics, Dev entered the fray following persuasion from TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Throughout the campaign, the BJP directed several accusations towards Dev, including allegations of accepting money from a relative of a cattle smuggling accused and receiving lavish gifts such as mobile phones. Dev countered these allegations by dismissing them as attempts to smear his reputation. He provided evidence of his financial transactions as a producer and confirmed that he had disclosed all relevant details to the enforcement directorate.

Among the promises made by Dev during his campaign was the implementation of the Ghatal masterplan project aimed at preventing the recurrent issue of flooding in the area. However, this pledge was met with skepticism by the BJP, which accused him of failing to act during his previous terms as MP. They highlighted his alleged absence from the constituency as a point of concern for voters.

This election result not only underscores the popularity of Dev among the electorate but also highlights the challenges he faces in fulfilling his promises amidst accusations of inaction. As Dev embarks on another term as MP for Ghatal, it remains to be seen how he will address these challenges and whether he can deliver on his commitment to mitigate flooding through the Ghatal masterplan project.