A retired soldier from Tripura State Rifles is set to disrupt Trinamool Congress dominance in West Bengal’s Swarupnagar (SC) seat. Tarak Saha, BJP’s fresh face, brings battle-hardened resolve to challenge the political status quo in this North 24 Parganas hotspot.
Having opted for VRS in 2019 after two decades in TSR as a Rifleman (GD), Saha’s candidacy turns the race into a riveting three-way battle. Facing him are Left Front’s Bishwajit Mandal and TMC’s Bina Mandal, the 2021 victor who trounced BJP by over 34,000 votes.
‘I have 200% faith in my win,’ Saha declared to the media. ‘Swarupnagar deserves freedom from TMC’s 15-year neglect. This agri-dependent area lags despite PM Modi’s new bridge. Rail links will empower farmers, and with Shantanu Thakur’s backing, change is imminent.’
Recruited in 1998 to TSR’s 6th Battalion, Saha excelled in training before deployment to the 2nd Battalion in Radha Kishore Nagar, serving till mid-2019. His story of service now fuels a campaign targeting underdevelopment in a TMC bastion.
With voting on April 29 and counting on May 4, Saha’s military discipline contrasts sharply with rivals’ records. He positions BJP as the development vehicle, criticizing TMC for stalled progress. As Bengal’s elections unfold, this ex-jawan’s challenge could signal shifting tides in reserved seats, drawing national attention to grassroots battles.