Kolkata markets go silent as migrant workers return home for Bihar elections | Watch

The Bihar Assembly elections have cast an unexpected shadow on Kolkata’s wholesale markets. From the fish market to Canning Street, business has slowed to a crawl as nearly 90% of daily wage labourers — mostly from Bihar — have returned home to participate in the polls.

Markets such as Machhua Mandi, Poppy Market, Canning Street, Bangri Market, and Rajakatra have been hit hard, with unloading of goods, transport, and deliveries all coming to a standstill. Traders say that while such disruptions occur during festive seasons, the combination of Chhath Puja and elections has brought business to an unprecedented halt.

Mukesh Sonkar, a fruit seller at Machhua Bazaar, said many labourers who had gone home for Chhath have decided to stay back until after the elections. Rashid Alam added that most workers fear losing their voter registration if they fail to cast their votes. Traders such as Vivek Singh from Posta Bazaar worry that continued delays could lead to major financial losses.

According to market estimates, this temporary exodus could impact Bengal’s wholesale trade, logistics, and supply chain operations by nearly 15–20%. Business owners now pin their hopes on November 12 — the final day of voting in Bihar — expecting normalcy to return soon after. As one trader put it, “The festival of democr