in 2006, sakuntala paik of cpi(m) won the kulpi (vidhan sabha constituency) defeating her nearest rival jogaranjan halder of aitc. jogaranjan halder of aitc defeated sakuntala paik of cpi(m) in 2001. sakuntala paik of cpi(m) defeated kirtibas sardar of inc in 1996, krishnadhan halder of cpi(m) defeated jogaranjan halder of inc in 1991, kirtibas sardar of inc in 1987, and santosh kumar mondal of inc in 1982 and 1977.