Mamata opts out of one-strategy-suits-all format while choosing candidates

The chief minister would contest from Nandigram, which was represented by Trinamul turncoat and BJP’s star campaigner Suvendu Adhikari

Mamata Banerjee: File picture

Snehamoy Chakraborty   |   TT   |   Calcutta   |   06.03.21  :  Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee did not opt for one-strategy-suits-all format while choosing candidates for seats that were represented by heavyweights who left the party to join the BJP.

The chief minister would contest from Nandigram, which was represented by Trinamul turncoat and BJP’s star campaigner Suvendu Adhikari. “I will contest from Nandigram as I always stick to my words,” Mamata said in Calcutta on Friday.

Apart from fielding herself in Nandigram, Mamata opted for strategic candidates in seats like Uttarpara in Hooghly, Behala East in Calcutta and Domjur in Howrah from where three prominent leaders of the party switched over to the BJP in the past few months.

“Didi has adopted specific strategies for each seat from where prominent faces of Trinamul left the party in the run up to the Assembly polls. The possibility of the turncoat contesting from their old seats on BJP tickets is high. So, Trinamul has fielded those candidates who can create pressure on those who switched sides,” said a Trinamul leader.

In the Behala East Assembly segment, Mamata has fielded Ratna Chatterjee, the estranged wife of former Calcutta mayor and minister Shovan Chatterjee who joined the BJP, along with his friend Baisakhi Banerjee.

“Shovan Chatterjee is likely to contest from Behala East and just think about the embarrassment he would face to take on his wife. Shovanda publicly said he would contest from the same seat and Ratna has expressed the confidence of defeating him,” the Trinamul leader added.

Shovan Chatterjee publicly said he would request his party to provide a ticket to contest from Behala East.

In Uttarpara, Mamata’s choice is actor Kanchan Mallick. The actor, who joined Trinamul recently, was fielded after local MLA Prabir Ghoshal joined the BJP. BJP insiders said Ghoshal was likely to contest from Uttarpara and Mallick’s popularity was likely to put pressure on the Trinamul turncoat.

In the case of Rajib Banerjee, Mamata adopted a different plan and picked an organisational hand to take on the defector to the BJP at Domjur.

“Rajib had won from Domjur in 2016 but it was Kalyanendu Ghosh who had conducted the election. The party has fielded Ghosh to take on Rajib. Ghosh had been sidelined within Trinamul because of infighting,” said a Trinamul leader in Howrah.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ghosh said: “I had conducted the polls for Rajib in 2016 and this time, I will work to defeat him in Domjur.”