Chatterjee, harping on the Bakreswar thermal power project and the Panagarh-Moregram highway implemented by the Left government "at his initiative", exudes confidence of retaining his semi-rural seat. The 68-year old high-profile parliamentarian, representing Bolpur since 1985, had earlier been elected from Jadavpur in 1979 and 1980.

A visit to the constituency in Birbhum district gives the impression that voters have high expectations of Chatterjee who has been advocating investment in this part of the state. But he admits that neither the state nor the private sector is interested in making investments here, while "irresponsible" trade unionism is standing in the way of "requiredindustrialisation."

Chatterjee, who resigned recently from WBIDC chairmanship as required under election rules, is well ahead of his immediate Trinamool Congress rival Suniti Chattoraj and Congress candidate Sushil Banerjee in campaigning. Bolpur constituency, which will witness a four-cornered contest this time, has an electorate of 10,36,294.

While Trinamool and Congress candidates have been saying that there has been no progress on the industrial and agricultural fronts, the CPM heavy weight has been dubbing the Trinamool Congress-BJP as "communal and anti-people".