KOLKATA – Jorasanko, immortalized as the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore, holds more than literary fame. This bustling Kolkata neighborhood, named after twin bridges spanning a bygone canal, pulses with political drama every election season. Once an impregnable fortress for Congress post-Independence, it has transformed into a Trinamool Congress stronghold over the past two decades. As West Bengal gears up for assembly polls, all eyes are on shifting voter equations here.
The area’s rich history blends seamlessly with its electoral intrigue. Tagore’s childhood home, now Rabindra Bharati University, echoes with cultural legacy. Intellectual hubs like Adi Brahmo Samaj shaped Bengal’s renaissance. Yet, politics tells a starkly different tale. From 1952 to 1996, Congress dominated, clinching 11 straight victories. The tide turned in 2001 after Mamata Banerjee’s TMC split from the parent party.
Since then, TMC’s ‘grass-flower’ symbol has bloomed in five consecutive assembly elections. In 2021, Vivek Gupta defeated BJP heavyweight Meena Devi Purohit, securing the seat. But margins reveal razor-thin battles: just 778 votes in 2001 and 819 in 2006. Voters here weigh candidates meticulously, never handing out easy wins.
Jorasanko’s voting patterns fascinate analysts. Assembly polls favor TMC on local issues, while Lok Sabha contests lean BJP, swayed by national narratives. In 2014, BJP led by 16,482 votes; 2019 narrowed to 3,882; 2024 widened to 7,401. This split under Kolkata North LS constituency highlights a pragmatic electorate: non-Bengali traders and Marwaris tilt right nationally, but trust Mamata locally.
Spanning 11 Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards, the urban seat mixes Marwari businesses along Rabindra Sarani, Hindi-speaking residents, and old Bengali families. Bustling markets in narrow lanes generate massive commerce amid Chittaranjan Avenue and College Street.
Upcoming 2026 polls could test TMC’s grip. Can BJP capitalize on its parliamentary edge to breach this urban enclave? Jorasanko’s dual personality promises another thrilling showdown.