After a long wait of 20 years and numerous political and administrative tussles, the election of the Rupnarayanpur Bazar Traders Association was finally held in an extremely peaceful and festive atmosphere. Following the absence of a democratic process for two long decades and repeated ignoring of demands to form a committee through democratic methods, an unprecedented enthusiasm was observed among the local business community surrounding this election. To avoid any unpleasant situations during the election, tight police security arrangements were made across the entire market area, making it possible to complete the voting process in a completely neutral, transparent, and peaceful manner.
According to available information, the last election of the Rupnarayanpur Bazar Traders Association was held back in 2006. However, according to the rules, a new executive committee was supposed to be formed through democratic elections every three years. But due to the vested interests and covert interventions of various quarters, it remained stalled for years. For 20 years, local traders were forced to run the market relying on a patched-up old committee. The past committee had completely failed to take any visible or significant initiatives to protect the interests of general traders, ensure overall welfare, and economically strengthen the market organizationally.
For a long time, voters and local traders complained that during the tenure of this hollow committee, Rupnarayanpur Bazar did not even have its own registered office, nor was there any specific and modern market management. Especially in the absence of public toilets for customers coming to the market and vendors arriving from distant places, ordinary people, particularly women shoppers, had to suffer immensely. Besides, intense anger had been brewing among the traders for a long time regarding the market's abysmal waste management. Although piles of dirt and garbage accumulated everywhere, there was no permanent or scientific system to clean them up. Moreover, in the event of any emergency accident like a short circuit or fire, due to the lack of a permanent fire department system in this densely populated area, they had to entirely depend on Asansol or Chittaranjan, which always kept the lives and property of the traders under extreme threat. General traders alleged that the leadership of the previous committee was completely indifferent and inactive in solving all these fundamental problems.
However, in this election, prominent businessman Bishwanath Ruz has won the president's post uncontested. In his immediate reaction after the victory, he stated that practically no work was done for the development of the market in the past two decades; rather, the market had lagged behind. General traders wanted a change this time and reposed full trust in him. He expressed a firm resolve to build a united, strong, and trader-friendly organization in the coming days. At the same time, he gave a strict assurance of taking prompt and effective steps with the cooperation of the local administration to solve the long-pending and burning problems of the market—such as building modern toilets, permanent arrangements for garbage removal, and strengthening fire-prevention systems.
On the other hand, the election for the secretary post and other sectors was also conducted in a very orderly and peaceful manner. Secretary candidate Swapan Kumar Da is highly optimistic that by overcoming the long-standing stagnation, this election will open a new and golden horizon in the history of the Rupnarayanpur Bazar Association. He stated that the spontaneous love, participation, and support of the traders have brought ultimate success to this democratic process.
Notably, to ensure smooth voting and proper representation of every area in this election, the entire Rupnarayanpur Bazar was divided into a total of six sectors. Candidates contested separately in each sector. Among them, in Sector-1 (Bihar Road), Babu Das, Sonali Singh Kapoor, and Safiq Ansari won uncontested. Debesh Kumar Tewari and Manoj Kumar Mandal won from Sector-2 (Rail Crossing to Dabar More). In Sector-3 (Dabar More to Honda Showroom), Narendra Nath Ruz, Arun Kumar Tewari, and Murari Mahato were elected uncontested. From Sector-4 (Dabar More to Hero Showroom and DAV School), Ramchandra Sao, Srikanta Chandra, Dilip Ghosh, Nitish Ranjan Chowdhury, Sukhamay Kumbhakar, and Santu Roy won uncontested.
Being one of the longest and busiest areas of the market, Sector-5 was again divided into three sub-divisions— '5-A' from Dabar More to Mahabir Colony More, '5-B' from Mahabir Colony More to old Alok Das's Chamber, and '5-C' from there to Gorandi Road and Kenduadihi More. Additionally, the Rupnarayanpur Super Market area was designated as the crucial 'Sector-6'. There was a neck-and-neck contest between Swapan Kumar Da and Somnath Tewari for the post of secretary.
Experienced economic circles see this historic election, held after 20 years, as a major turning point or milestone in the economic and commercial field of Rupnarayanpur Bazar. Now, all eyes of the shopkeepers and business community are keenly focused on how this new leadership, emerging after a prolonged struggle, will bring about infrastructural development in the market and fulfill the long-cherished dreams and expectations of the traders.
