A scary taxi ride to Bengal's notorious Bhangar, where MLA Nawsad Siddique is loved beyond faith | Ground report
Bhangar, a politically volatile constituency in West Bengal, is known for its history of violence and electoral unpredictability. Nawsad Siddique, the incumbent MLA from the Indian Secular Front (ISF), won the seat in 2021 as the only non-BJP opposition candidate to do so, and enjoys cross-religious support. As the 2026 assembly elections approach, Siddique is seeking re-election in a region marked by ongoing political tensions and security concerns.
- ▪Nawsad Siddique is the only non-BJP opposition leader to win a seat in the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, capturing Bhangar constituency.
- ▪Bhangar has a reputation for political violence, land conflicts, and unrest, including a deadly protest over a power grid project in 2016–17.
- ▪Siddique, a descendant of the Furfura Sharif Sufi lineage, is one of the few Muslim leaders in the region with significant support from Hindu voters.
- ▪The ISF, led by Siddique, is contesting over 33 seats in alliance with the Left Front in the 2026 elections.
- ▪Recent incidents in Bhangar include the murder of a TMC block president and the recovery of 100 crude bombs from a residence linked to the ruling party.
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A scary taxi ride to Bengal's notorious Bhangar, where MLA Nawsad Siddique is loved beyond faith | Ground reportBhangar MLA Nawsad Siddique, who became the only non-BJP opposition leader to win in 2021 WB polls, is among the very few Muslim leaders loved by even Hindus.Updated on: Apr 28, 2026 3:13 PM ISTBy Nayanika SenguptaShare viaCopy link I was three failed attempts down and almost about to give up on booking a taxi for West Bengal's notorious constituency of Bhangar when a fourth agreed to take me there, only to reveal later that he too is a fan of the MLA — Nawsad Siddique — whose outfit Indian Secular Front (ISF) was the only opposition party except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win a seat in the 2021 state assembly elections.Ground report from West Bengal's Bhangar…
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