Scandal and Redemption: The Political Journey of Jyoti Priya Mallick

Former West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, involved in a ration scam, leads in Habra by-election. Previously arrested, he spent 14 months in custody. TMC's Mamata Banerjee supports him, asserting his arrest was due to jealousy. Mallick is now leading the polls against BJP and CPI(M) rivals.

In the heated political battleground of West Bengal, former minister Jyoti Priya Mallick is making headlines once again. Accused in a multi-crore ration distribution scam, Mallick, representing the TMC, is leading his BJP rival by 4,967 votes in the Habra constituency.

The Election Commission's latest figures show Mallick securing 12,037 votes, while his closest competitor from the BJP, Debdas Mondal, trails with 7,070 votes. The CPI(M) candidate, Rijinandan Biswas, ranks third with 4,634 votes after two completed counting rounds, out of a total of 19 rounds.

Arrested in 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate, Mallick spent over 14 months in custody amid a probe into the scandal. Despite the allegations, TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has publicly backed Mallick, attributing his legal troubles to political jealousy rather than misconduct.