BJP names 19 more candidates for LS polls; fails to announce nominees in 4 seats

For the Darjeeling seat, the expected list included outgoing MP Raju Bista and former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, however, the scales tilted in favour of Raju Bista

Rekha Patra

Pradip Chatterjee & Amitava Banerjee, MP, 24 Mar 2024, Kolkata/Siliguri: In the face of increasing discontent among its party members, the BJP announced its second list for Bengal on Sunday, revealing the names of 19 candidates for the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

The party has fielded three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) members who switched allegiance. The BJP, however, failed to name candidates in four seats. Former Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who ran a tirade against the TMC, has been given a ticket by the BJP and will contest from Tamluk. Rekha Patra who had reportedly lodged the complaint in connection with the Sandeshkhali incident has become the candidate for BJP in Basirhat. 

TMC had always alleged that the BJP had kept the Sandeshkhali controversy alive to gain political advantage ahead of Lok Sabha polls. A section of TMC leaders are saying that Patra has received her award from the BJP for “keeping alive the protest” against the ruling party in Bengal. 

For the Darjeeling seat, the expected list included outgoing MP Raju Bista and former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, however, the scales tilted in favour of Raju Bista. 

Sitting BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, who had previously switched over to the Trinamool Congress two years ago and then returned to the saffron party once again after being denied a ticket by the ruling party in Bengal, is going to contest again from Barrackpore on BJP’s ticket. 

Trinamool Congress candidate Partha Bhowmick is pitted against him. Similarly, Trinamool Congress’s four-term MLA who claimed himself to be a deserving candidate for North Kolkata switched over to BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls with a hope that the saffron party may field a candidate from North Kolkata. 

BJP has not disappointed him. Roy will now contest against Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandyopadhyay with whom he had much indifference. It is going to be a nerve battle as Roy’s opponent is a five-term party MP. 

Putting an end to the speculation over the nomination of retired Kolkata High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the BJP has fielded him for Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency where he is pitted against Trinamool Congress’ youth leader Debangshu Bhattacharya. 

Once a Trinamool Congress leader Silbhadra Dutta who had joined BJP earlier has been fielded for Dum Dum where he is going to face a difficult opponent in Trinamool Congress veteran Sougata Roy. 

Interestingly, Dilip Ghosh who had so long carried out the party’s baton on his shoulder was shifted to Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency from his old seat Midnapore. There was speculation going on that Ghosh may be dropped from the Midnapore seat as the Opposition leader in Bengal Suvendu Adhikari was not keen on selecting Ghosh for Midnapore. 

BJP MLA Agnimitra Pal is going to contest on BJP’s ticket from Midnapore. She is pitted against Trinamool Congress’ June Malia. Debashree Chowdhury has been fielded by the BJP for Kolkata Dakshin where she is pitted against Trinamool Congress’ Mala Roy. 

The saffron party has fielded Amrita Roy for Krishnanagar where she will be contesting against Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra. BJP announced the names of candidates for Darjeeling; Jalpaiguri and Raiganj Lok Sabha seats. With several contenders for the BJP ticket for the Darjeeling seat, all eyes were focused on who would finally be nominated by the party. 

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/bengal-bjp-names-19-more-candidates-for-ls-polls-fails-to-announce-nominees-in-4-seats-557243