Bengal Polls 2021: BJP's Bharati Ghosh up against Trinamool's Humayun Kabir in battle of former IPS officers

Ghosh, who was once close to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 General Elections on the BJP's ticket from Ghatal, which was won by actor-politician Dev.

During an event, Ghosh had even called Banerjee "Maa (mother)".

Ghosh's residence was raided in 2018 by the Crime Investigaton Department (CID) in an alleged extortion case leading to a political war between the Trinamool and the BJP. 

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh had then said as quoted by The Indian Express, "Police is after her like a dog, definitely she has something that is keeping Trinamool under pressure. The way TMC is reacting… it shows Bharati Ghosh has a lot of explosive files that can land them in trouble. It is being speculated she knows hidden facts about the death of Maoist leader Kishanji in an encounter in November 2011."

Kabir has very recently resigned as the Chandannagar Police Commissioner and joined the Trinamool.

Kabir was embroiled in a controversy over his statement where he had complained about the backward state of the minority community in West Bengal. 

In Mar 2020, there were communal riots in Telinipara and the areas surrounding Chandannagar. 

On Jan 21 this year, three BJP supporters were arrested for raising "goli maaro" slogan at a rally. The BJP men were accused of inciting violence. 

The BJP Saturday released the names of candidates for 56 of 60 seats which will go to polls in the first two phases Mar 27 and Apr 1.

One seat has been left for ally AJSU while the saffron camp is yet to announce the names for three more seats.