Nirbhoy Didi, also known as Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, is poised to run for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, representing the Dakshin Malda parliamentary constituency. What adds intrigue to her candidacy is that she stands as the sole female contender in the general elections from North West Bengal.
As a representative in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, ‘Nirbhoy Didi’ holds office in the English Bazar constituency. Her constituents bestowed this nickname upon her as a tribute to her tireless endeavors in advancing women’s safety, socioeconomic empowerment of migrant workers, and rural communities, and fostering communal harmony in the region.
As the sole female candidate representing North Bengal and vying for election in Dakshin Malda, Chaudhury asserts, “It’s imperative to rescue Dakshin Malda from the grips of violence, arson, riots, communal unrest, illegal immigration, bomb-making, counterfeit currency, illicit arms trafficking, and narcotics. Only under the resolute leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi can we pave a path to progress in this noble endeavor.”
About her early life and education
Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury belongs to South Baluchar Battla in the Malda district of West Bengal. She pursued her postgraduate studies and obtained a Master of Arts degree from North Bengal University in 1987. She is married to R. K. Mitra.
About her career
She has been actively involved in various social initiatives. In 2004, she participated in the launch of the National Legal Literacy Mission and later served as the national advisor of the National Legal Services Authority of the Ministry of Law and Justice until 2008. Additionally, she served as the president of the NGO Sudinalay in 2010. She chaired the special task force on rape, trafficking, and violence against women established by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the 2012 Delhi gang rape, resigning from the position in December 2013 amidst speculations of contesting parliamentary elections from the Malda seat with the All India Trinamool Congress.
Although she contested the 2014 general election from the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat as an AITC candidate and the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Maldaha Dakshin with a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, she was unsuccessful. However, in the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, she contested as a BJP candidate from English Bazar and emerged victorious, defeating her closest rival from the TMC.
