Crucible of ISF, Bhangore reflects experiment in Muslim politics

Site of land conflict, the constituency on the outskirts of Kolkata will prove key to the future of the opposition alliance

Two of the three hawkers selling hard-boiled sweets and iced water tubes at the Indian Secular Front (ISF) rally at the Bhojherhat football ground in Bhangore on the last day of campaigning, have decided on their choice for MLA — the Samyukta Morcha candidate, Naushad Siddique. But their colleague is yet undecided. A beneficiary of the Trinamool Congress’ welfare schemes for his daughters, he said, “I got ₹50,000 for my daughter under Kanyashree [a scheme of financial aid for girls who have studied till Class XII] and Rupashree [for a girl child’s marriage] but we were denied Amphan relief.”