in 2006, 2001 and 1996, mursalin molla of cpi(m) won the maheshtala (vidhan sabha constituency) defeating his nearest rivals dulal das of inc in 2006, biman banerjee of aitc in 2001 and gouranga mukherjee of inc in 1996. abul basar of cpi(m) defeated malay chowdhury of inc in 1991 and habibur rahman of inc in 1987. mir abdus sayeed of cpi(m) defeated dilip ghose, independent politician, in 1982. sudhir chandra bhandari of cpi(m) defeated mali safiuddin of janata party in 1977.