During the 1998 Lok Sabha election campaign as a Congress candidate Chattaraj used to describe the 'Hand Symbol' of his party as the sign for stability, prosperity and what not. He warned his electorate that the Bakreswar Thermal plant would never be a reality. But his prediction has been proved false and he finds himself in an awkward situation on Bakreswar plant at last.

But Suniti Chattaraj is a political turncoat, now having changed his loyalty from the Congress to the Trinamul Congress. The bargain is clear. The Trinamul Congress has given him the nomination for the Bolepur Lok Sabha seat and something else, may be fund for election campaign.

To refresh the memory of the people it can be mentioned again that in the 1998 Lok Sabha election Suniti Chattaraj forfeited his security deposit, having failed to secure the minimum number of votes. His rival in the last Lok Sabha election was CPI(M)'s Somnath Chatterjee who has already been the recipient of an award of the best Parliamentarian. Somnath Chatterjee is again the CPI(M) candidate for the Lok Sabha from the same Bolpur constituency. Obviously Chatterjee will have to see to it that he does not lose his security deposit again. The contest is between a stalwart and a political dwarf.

With the election between less than two weeks way, the campaign is gaining in heat in this predominantly rural constituency. Seven Assembly segments, such as Ausgram, Mangalkot, Nanoor, Bolepur, Lavpur, Dubrajpur and Mayureshwar comprise the Bolepur Lok Sabha constituency. Unlike the Trinamul Congress or its candidate Suniti Chattaraj, Somnath Chatterjee is not holding out tall promises to the people. The theme of his speeches everywhere is if a secular democratic and government is formed at the Centre with the support of the Left, the country's development will be ensured. Such a government is expected to be free from corruption and the pace of development will be accelerated too. Such a government will help in generating new employment and giving a boost to industrialisation.

In his speeches Chatterjee impresses upon the people that the Left party M.P.'s voice the people's demand for development of their respective areas in the Lok Sabha. But if a party like the BJP comes to power it will not be interested in the development of the regions to benefit the common man. That is why the BJP's attempt to grab power again will have to be thwarted, Chatterjee says.

People in Bolepur also know that Somnath Chatterjee has over the year's associated himself in all developmental work in this constituency. It was Chatterjee's initiative, which saw the introduction of the Ganadevata Express. Chatterjee has also played his role as a Parliamentarian in the commissioning of the Bakreswar Thermal power plant. Several bridges have been completed within the constituency, facilitating movement of goods and people. Even Panagarh-Morgram road was completed early because of Chatterjee's efforts. Opposition parties of the Left Front have themselves acknowledged the contributions made by Chatterjee in the development of Birbhum district. Intellectuals living in Bolepur, too, admit of a sincere and effective role played by Chatterjee in the development activity in Bolepur. Academics and social scientists have already openly admitted that Chatterjee is the most suitable candidate to preserve the country's pluralistic tradition and culture. Women of Bolepur are also coming out to campaign for Chatterjee in large numbers. Even small and medium traders and entrepreneurs, clubs local organisations of Bolepur are very sincere in their statement saying that only the Left Front can take upon itself the onerous task of overall development in the State of West Bengal and the country, not to speak of Birbhum only. People are hopeful of a victory for Somanth Chatterjee with a much larger margin this time.