Keshpur ( ) is a town and community development block in Medinipur Sadar subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Kespur is located at

Demographics

In the 2001 census, Keshpur community development block had a population of 2,88,494 out of which 1,47,743 were males and 1,40,751 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 19.37% for Keshpur, against 15.68% in (erstwhile) Medinipur district. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%.

Politics

Rameswar Doloi of CPI won the Keshpur assembly seat, reserved for scheduled castes, in 2006 state electionsdefeating Asis Pramanick of Trinamool Congress. Nanda Rani Dal of CPI(M) won the seat three times in a row defeating Rajani Kanta Doloi of Trinamool Congress in 2001, Sanyasi Dolai of INC in 1996, and Balai Chandra Paria of Jharkhand Party in 1991. Himansu Kumar of CPI(M) defeated Rajani Kanta Dolai of INC in 1987 and 1982. Rajani Kanta Doloi of INC won the seat in 1977 defeating Ajay Kumar Dolui of CPI(M) in 1977.

Keshpur assembly constituency is part of Ghatal .

After the 1998 panchayat elections, the Trinamool Congress started from this one-horse town, a programme to mobilise the surrounding villagers. It meant challenging the CPI(M)'s domination over the electoral process. It is widely suspected that particularly in the rural areas it followed a regime perfected by them in which the non-party voters were virtually debarred from voting. The Keshpur rebels began questioning this.Between 1998 and 2001 Keshpur was caught in bloody clashes between the CPI(M) and the Trinamul Congress over control of the area.Keshpur became a place synonymous with political vendetta and bloodshed.

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