Kolkata: Once they broke the same trail to have a foothold in the ever increasing competitive entertainment industry of Bengal, and to some extent they considerably achieved success in the filmy-world, but the call of politics may perhaps have greater appeal to them as actor Anjana Basu and her industry colleague Lovely Maitra are pitted against each other to once again test their popularity, albeit in a new format.
As the Tollywood industry has become under the influence of high-profile politicians, the artistes and technicians began to move pole apart seeking new opportunities in the volatile politics in election time.
Popular Bengali actress Anjana Basu seeking her fortune with the BJP ticket is pitted against ruling Trinamool Congress aspirant and television star Lovely Maitra for the Sonarpur South assembly seat in South 24 Parganas.
In the three-corner contest, CPI nominee Shuvam Banerjee, a candidate for United Front comprising Left, Congress and Indian Secular Front (ISF) headed by Furfurea Sharif Prizada Abbas Siddique.
In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly election, Jiban Mukhopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress won the Sonarpur Dakshin seat. He garnered 97,455 votes, as against 82,426 votes won by his main rival Tarit Chakraborty of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
In 2011 too, Mr Mukhopadhyay had won the election over Mr Chakraborty by a margin of 37,774 votes.
Sonarpur Dakshin constituency falls under the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency
The TMC has bet on star candidate Lovely Maitra by not giving ticket to two-time MLA Jiban Mukherjee this time.
Ms Maitra is quite new in the field of politics, but Anjana Basu’s political experience is a bit more. She has been associated with the BJP for over a year.
Ms Basu has also been seen in various programs of saffron party. These two candidates are well known and popular among the people of the area but in terms of vote politics, the fight is ‘unknown’ for both the candidates.
Ms Anjana Basu started campaigning in the area adjacent to Sonarpur Bazar and told the people, “I have taken home in Sonarpur. I’m staying here. “
On the other hand, during the campaign, Ms Maitra urged the party workers to ensure that the Trinamool Congress wins the upcoming assembly elections
“The opposition has no captain and no players,” the TMC star candidate said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has removed the Superintendent of Police of Howrah (Rural) Soumya Roy after his wife Lovely Maitra was given a ticket by the Trinamool Congress for the West Bengal Assembly election.
“Soumya Roy has been removed. His wife Lovely Maitra is a candidate and he will not be involved in the election process in any form,” a source in the EC said.
According to rules, none in the family of a candidate can be involved in the election process, the official of the Chief Electoral Officers office said.
Soon after Lovely Maitra was named as the TMC candidate for the Sonapur Dakshin seat, opposition political parties had raised questions on how her husband could continue as the SP of Howrah (Rural). (UNI)
