Firhad Hakim Wins Kolkata Port as Voter Roll Revision Casts Shadow on TMC Stronghold

Key facts

• Firhad Hakim won the Kolkata Port seat for Trinamool Congress, defeating BJP's Rakesh Singh.
• The electorate in the constituency dropped from 2.36 lakh in 2021 to around 1.75 lakh after a Special Intensive Revision, a decline of nearly 26%.
• Hakim first won the seat in 2011 and has held it continuously, serving as Kolkata mayor and state minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.
• BJP candidate Rakesh Singh previously contested against Hakim as a Congress candidate in 2016 and 2021.
• Hakim's victory margin increased from 26,548 votes in 2016 to 68,554 votes in 2021, when he polled over one lakh votes.
• Polling took place on April 29 in the second phase, with counting scheduled for May 4.
• Opposition parties alleged that genuine voters were removed from the rolls during the revision.

Hakim Holds Kolkata Port Amid Voter Roll Controversy

Firhad Hakim, the Trinamool Congress candidate and Kolkata mayor, has won the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, defeating his nearest rival from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The result reaffirms the party's dominance in a seat it has held since 2011, but the contest unfolded against the backdrop of a sharply reduced electorate that has sparked allegations of voter list manipulation. The electorate in this south Kolkata constituency dropped from 2.36 lakh in the 2021 Assembly polls to around 1.75 lakh after a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a decline of nearly 26 percent. The revision injected uncertainty into what was considered a safe seat for the ruling party, prompting political parties to scrutinise the rolls booth-wise for deletions.

A Four-Cornered Contest with a Familiar Face

Hakim, a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a state minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, was re-nominated by the TMC. He first entered the West Bengal Assembly from Kolkata Port in 2011 and retained the seat in subsequent elections, making him one of the most established figures in the constituency. His candidacy linked the local contest to the broader Kolkata political map, as he is both the city's mayor and a state cabinet minister. The BJP fielded Rakesh Singh, who had previously contested against Hakim as a Congress candidate in 2016 and 2021. The Congress nominated Aquib Gulzar, and the CPI(M) put up Faiyaz Ahmad Khan, making it a four-cornered contest. Singh's switch to the BJP added a twist, but Hakim's record—winning by 26,548 votes in 2016 and increasing his margin to 68,554 votes in 2021—underscored the challenge for the opposition.

Voter Roll Revision Sparks Allegations of Deletion

The sharp decline in voter numbers became a key talking point in the campaign. Opposition parties raised concerns over the revision, alleging that names of genuine voters had been removed. Singh claimed several residents had complained about missing names in the rolls, stressing the need for transparency. The CPI(M) nominee also said voters in several areas had raised similar concerns. Party workers across formations scrutinised the revised rolls booth-wise to identify deletions and assess whether specific localities had been affected. While the TMC expressed confidence in retaining the seat, the controversy over the electoral roll injected an element of uncertainty into the polling on April 29.

Civic Issues and Trust in the Campaign

Beyond the voter list controversy, civic issues such as sanitation, traffic congestion and declining business activity in traditional markets featured in the campaign. However, the revised voter list emerged as a dominant theme. Hakim, during a campaign event, said, “People here know who has stood by them. Elections are decided by trust.” His comment reflected the TMC's strategy of relying on incumbency and personal connection with voters in a constituency where Muslim voters form a significant segment, alongside traders, transport workers and working-class Hindu families.

Counting Scheduled for May 4 as Stakes Remain High

Polling in the Kolkata Port constituency was held in the second phase on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. The outcome will be closely watched not only for the immediate result but also for its implications for the credibility of the electoral process in West Bengal. The TMC's victory, while expected, does not fully dispel the questions raised by the voter roll revision. The constituency, part of the Kolkata Dakshin parliamentary constituency, comprises dock areas, old business districts and densely populated neighbourhoods. Its electoral dynamics reflect broader trends in urban Bengal, where the TMC has maintained a stronghold but faces challenges from a resurgent BJP and a fragmented opposition.

Hakim's Victory Reinforces TMC's Urban Grip

Hakim's win reinforces the TMC's grip on Kolkata's urban seats, where the party has relied on a combination of development works, welfare schemes and local leadership. His dual role as mayor and minister gives him a direct hand in city governance, making the election result a barometer of public satisfaction with the state's urban administration. For the opposition, the result underscores the difficulty of breaking into TMC strongholds, even when aided by controversies over electoral rolls. The BJP's decision to field Singh, a former Congress candidate, did not yield a breakthrough, while the Left and Congress remained marginal players. The voter roll issue, however, is unlikely to fade, as opposition parties may continue to press for transparency in future elections.

The bottom line

• Firhad Hakim retained Kolkata Port for the TMC, defeating BJP's Rakesh Singh in a four-cornered contest.
• The electorate dropped by nearly 26% after a Special Intensive Revision, from 2.36 lakh to 1.75 lakh, sparking allegations of voter deletion.
• Hakim has held the seat since 2011 and serves as Kolkata mayor and state minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.
• Opposition parties raised concerns over the revised rolls, with Singh and the CPI(M) nominee citing complaints from residents about missing names.
• Civic issues like sanitation and traffic congestion featured in the campaign, but the voter list controversy dominated.
• Counting is scheduled for May 4, and the result may influence perceptions of electoral integrity in West Bengal.