Among the 206 candidates who won on the BJP ticket, Kalita Majhi’s triumph from the Ausgram Assembly seat is particularly notable. She secured 1,07,692 votes, defeating her nearest competitor, Trinamool Congress’s Shyama Prasanna Lohar, by 12,535 votes.
Who is Kalita Majhi?
A resident of Majhpukur Par in Ward No. 3 of Guskara Municipality, Majhi previously earned ₹4,000 monthly working as domestic help across two households. She lives with her husband, Subrata Majhi, a plumber, and their son, who has just completed his Class 12 exams.
Majhi has been involved in politics for over ten years. She gained prominence when the BJP nominated her for Ausgram, a SC-reserved seat in the Bolpur Lok Sabha constituency, during the 2021 Assembly elections. Although she lost that election to TMC’s Abhedananda Thander, who garnered 1,00,392 votes compared to her 88,577, she emerged victorious this time with 1,07,692 votes.
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Majhi shared that she took a month off from work to concentrate on her campaign after her name was included in the BJP’s initial list of candidates. Her campaign priorities included women’s empowerment, anti-corruption initiatives, and the upliftment of economically disadvantaged groups. She often referenced her own story as evidence that someone from a domestic worker background can aspire to public office.
As an MLA, Majhi’s foremost aim is to establish a hospital in her village, as current medical facilities require residents to travel to Burdwan town. She outlined additional objectives like promoting solar energy for electricity, enhancing infrastructure, and creating job opportunities.
“I also want to see central government schemes implemented in West Bengal. Everyone deserves a secure home. I will bring in the PM’s housing scheme and construct homes and toilets,” she expressed.
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“I am incredibly pleased and grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing his trust in me. Today, I can offer him this win,” she told The Indian Express.
“My primary focus will be on advancing the development of marginalized communities and ensuring that proper roads and drinking water are accessible in every household. I will also prioritize the development of youth and the safety and security of women,” she added.
