Youngest candidate unfazed by change

At a time when the 'Red Bastion' is facing the gravest challenge from opposition led by Mamata Banerjee, the youngest soldier of the red battalion, Satarup Ghosh, seems confident of re-occupation of Writer's Building. Twenty five year old Satarup Ghosh is contesting from Kasba Constituency in South Kolkata against Trinamool Congress candidate Javed Khan.

“We don't see the election as the battle between two individuals rather a fight between two ideals hence I don't feel any added pressure for contesting against a seasoned politician as I am fully confident of my voters,” says Ghosh. A masters degree holder from the Rabindra Bharati University, Satarup had been associated with the Left Front's student wing, SFI and played an active role during the recent students' unrest in Ashutosh College. Clad in kurta and jeans, the twenty five year old candidate was being guided by the party elders as he went door to door asking for vote. “Shamarthan korben” or “please support us” says Ghosh with folded hands as people from the adjoining balcony greet him. Not everybody seemed welcoming to Satarup, as Shanta Roy, a lady went furious when Satarup led by the elders of the local committee approached her for support. Roy started pouring out her grievance on how she was refused help from the councilor despite repeated appeal. The young candidate showed rare composure and apologized to Roy and said “choto bhaike ekta shujog din,” or 'give a chance to your younger brother”. Ghosh refused to move in spite of being reminded about the delay as he had to join the chief minister in a campaign. Ghosh stood with folded hands and at the end he managed to calm Roy down. Roy finally got a glass of water for Satarup.While much of the moral politics seemed to have faded in this election by leaders of both the camp, the gesture surely was an indication of the resurgence of the party that had drifted away from its own people who had once brought them to power. The question lies if the people are ready to give them the eighth chance.