Balagarh

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Balagarh | type = city | latd =23.25 | longd =88.43
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Hooghly
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total =127,466 | population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =91 3213
postal_code = 712501
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =CD Block

Balagarh ( _bn. বলাগড়) is a town, a police station and a community development block in Chinsurah subdivision. [ [http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/01/Table-3.htm District-wise list of statutory towns] ] of Hooghly District in West Bengal, India.

Demographics

Balagarh community development block had a population of 127,466 in 2001. Out of this 72,451 were males and 55,015 were females. [ [http://www.hooghly.gov.in/demography.htm Hooghly District Administration] ]

Economy

Balagarh was selected the site for power station by Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation but the project was shelved. [ [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/22/stories/2004042201290200.htm The Hindu Business Line 22 April 2004] ]

Culture

Guptipara

Guptipara is a village under Balagarh police station.

The first publicly organised Durga Puja was held at Guptipara, when some men were stopped from taking part in a household Durga Puja. Twelve of them formed a committee and organised a barowari ("baro" means twelve and "yar" means friend) puja (worshipping). There is a difference of opinion about the year of worship – 1761 or 1790. [ [http://www.calcuttaweb.com/puja/index.shtml Calcutta Web] ] [ [http://festivals.iloveindia.com/durga-puja/history-durga-puja.html Festivals – Durga Puja] ]

There are some old temples in the village - Brindabanchandra Temple, Chaitanyadev Temple, Krishna Chandra Temple and Ramachandra Temple. [ [http://www.india9.com/i9show/46346.htm India 9. com] ]

Politics

The Balagarh seat fell vacant because of the death of the sitting MLA, Dibakanta Routh. In 2007 by-elections, Bhuban Pramanick of CPI(M) polled 60,101 votes to win the seat. Ashim Majhi of Trinamool Congress secured 51,691 votes. Bangshi Raut of the BJP got 8,833 votes leaving Congress nominee Biswanath Malik in the fourth place with 5,864 votes. Gautam Mandal of the CPI(ML) managed 4530 votes. [cite web | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200801021422.htm | title = CPI(M) retains Balagarh assembly seat | accessdate = 2008-01-02 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = The Hindu News Update Service, 2 January 2008]

Dibakanta Routh of CPI (M) won the Balagarh (SC) assembly seat in 2006, 2001 and 1996, defeating his nearest rivals, Asim Patra of AITC, Lakshmi Parui of AITC and Biswanath Malik of INC, in the respective years. Abinash Pramanik of CPI (M) won the seat in 1991, 1987, 1982 and 1977 defeating his nearest rivals Biswanath Malik, Gopal Krishna Dhar, Nilmoni Mandal and Gauranga Halder, all of INC, in the respective years. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp188.htm Election Commission] Assembly election results 1977-2006. Click on Party-wise Performance of Political Parties for details. ]

Balagarh is part of Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf
title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | accessdate = 2007-02-21 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal
publisher = Election Commission of India]

External links

* [http://www.hooghly.gov.in/map.htm Hooghly District Map]

References

ee also