Congress picks candidate for Kaliaganj bypoll; Suspense over alliance with Left front continues

The Indian National Congress on Thursday announced Kabiluddin Ahmed as its candidate for the Kaliaganj Assembly by-election from Nadia district. This decision confirmed that Congress will contest the seat independently and will not share it with the Left Front. The party, however, acknowledged the need for alliances to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Earlier, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim declared that his party would field a candidate in the by-election and hoped to gain support from Congress. He highlighted the Left Front's performance in panchayat and Lok Sabha elections in the area and referenced Congress’s win from Kaliaganj in 2016, although the elected MLA later joined TMC. Salim said, “If we contest jointly, both the BJP and the Trinamool can be defeated.”

Congress sources stated that Kaliaganj has been a traditional Congress seat, justifying the party’s decision to field its own candidate. In 2016, Congress won the seat in alliance with the Left Front. Prior to that, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a constituent of the Left Front, had won the seat four times. The RSP has announced that it will support CPI(M) if the party fields a candidate.

Trinamool Congress has nominated Alifa Ahmed, daughter of the late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, as its candidate for the by-election. Alifa Ahmed is 38 years old, holds a BTech degree, and works in an IT company. Nasiruddin Ahmed had won the seat on a Trinamool ticket in 2011 and 2021 but lost in 2016. The seat fell vacant following his demise.

A senior Congress leader said, “Kaliaganj is historically our seat. The CPI(M) must now decide its course.” The by-election was necessitated by the vacancy created after Nasiruddin Ahmed’s death. The contest is expected to be closely watched given the presence of Congress, Left Front, and Trinamool candidates.