Kolkata/Agartala, March 22: A retired jawan of Tripura’s elite Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Tarak Saha, has stepped into the political arena, contesting in the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee.
Saha, a former Rifleman (General Duty), took voluntary retirement from TSR in 2019 after over two decades of service. His transition from a disciplined life in uniform to the competitive world of politics marks a significant personal and professional shift. The BJP has fielded him from Swarupnagar, a Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved constituency in North 24 Parganas district.
Swarupnagar is considered a stronghold of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), making the contest particularly challenging. The seat is witnessing a triangular fight, with Saha taking on CPI(M)-led Left Front candidate Biswajit Mondal and TMC nominee Bina Mondal.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Bina Mondal had secured victory for TMC, defeating BJP’s Brindaban Sarkar by a margin of over 34,000 votes in a multi-cornered contest. With this backdrop, the upcoming election is expected to be closely watched.
Expressing confidence, Saha said the BJP has entrusted him with the responsibility of ensuring development in Swarupnagar. “I am fully optimistic about victory. I will honour the trust placed in me and work towards transforming the constituency,” he stated, adding that the region has remained underdeveloped despite years of TMC rule.
Highlighting infrastructure needs, Saha referred to recent initiatives by Narendra Modi, including the inauguration of a bridge, and emphasized the importance of improved railway connectivity for the agriculture-based region. He expressed hope that Union Minister Shantanu Thakur would support efforts to expand rail links, enabling farmers to access better markets.
Saha was recruited into TSR in 1998 under the 6th Battalion and later served in the 2nd Battalion at Radha Kishore Nagar in West Tripura until his retirement in July 2019.
Polling in Swarupnagar (SC) will be held in the second phase on April 29, with results scheduled to be announced on May 4.
