BJP so far has decided the names for only those constituencies that will go to vote in the preliminary phases. Though the final decision is left to Amit Shah, sources say that the others seem to have arrived at a broad consensus with respect to a few names.
Kolkata: BJP, after three meetings of central election committee (CEC), has made up its mind on the candidate list from Bengal, a state that is extremely crucial to BJP’s scheme of things. Though the final decision is left to Amit Shah, sources say that the others seem to have arrived at a broad consensus with respect to a few names.
Sources say Union minister Babul Supriyo will be repeated from Asansol this time as well. Trinamool Congress has fielded film star Moon Moon Sen from the constituency.
Former cop and once a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, Bharati Ghosh too will be given ticket. Sources say, she will be fielded from Ghatal constituency. She joined BJP barely a month ago.
Three turncoats Soumitra, Anupam Hazra and Arjun Singh, who joined the BJP a week ago, would also be fielded by the party, say sources.
Anupam Hazra is likely to fight from Jadavpur. TMC has fielded cine star Mimi Chakraborty from the constituency. Meanwhile, Arjun Singh is likely to contest from Barrackpore.
Darjeeling so far has remained inconclusive. SS Ahluwalia’s name is being considered, but no final decision has been taken yet. In 2014, Ahluwalia fought and won from Darjeeling.
Chandra Bose, who is a descendant of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is likely to be fielded from the Kolkata itself.
Sources also indicate that Shamik Bhattacharya, a seasoned BJP hand in the state, is likely be fielded from Basirhat. TMC has fielded movie star Nusrat Jahan from the constituency, replacing Idrees Ali.
Meanwhile, BJP's main man in Bengal Mukul Roy may not contest the election, but would perhaps be given a bigger organisational responsibility.
Sources say, BJP so far has decided the names for only those constituencies that will go to vote in the preliminary phases. Bengal has been on top of BJP’s agenda where it hopes to compensate for the losses made elsewhere. Bengal, which is already witnessing a saffron wave, can be the ideal place to do that, for the BJP. Why else would BJP president, barely four days after he was admitted to AIIMS with swine flu, have rushed to Bengal to roar, “Even Ravan’s regime was brought down.” Meanwhile, for the TMC, it’s a prestige battle where the ruling party has to show the BJP who is the boss when it comes to Bengal.
West Bengal, which sends 42 members to the Lok Sabha, will now witness a four-cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Left Front and the Congress.
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