The political temperature at Kolkata Port has hit a boiling point following BJP’s 6th list of candidates. Rakesh Singh, who was released from jail just this Tuesday, has been fielded against TMC veteran Firhad Hakim. The Calcutta High Court granted Singh bail on April 6, clearing his path to enter the electoral fray in a constituency long considered Hakim’s bastion.

When asked about his new opponent, Firhad Hakim responded with sheer indifference. “Who is Rakesh Singh? I know the people of the Port; I don’t know individual candidates,” Hakim remarked, hinting that Singh had previously lost his security deposit. Rakesh Singh was arrested last September in connection with an attack on Congress headquarters and defacing Rahul Gandhi’s posters. Despite the legal battles, BJP has placed its trust in him to break Hakim’s winning streak. With Singh already hitting the campaign trail, the fight for Kolkata Port is set to be one of the most watched contests this season.