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TMC's Shocking Candidate List Shakes Up West Bengal Politics

Kalyani Jha
10 Mar, 2024

In a move that has sent shockwaves through West Bengal's political landscape, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced its candidates for all 42 seats in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The list includes some high-profile names, turning the spotlight on the fiercely contested battleground of West Bengal.

One of the most notable inclusions is former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, who is set to contest from Berhampore, a seat traditionally represented by Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury since 1999. This unexpected move by the TMC marks a significant challenge to the established political order in the region.

Expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra is also making a comeback, as she prepares to contest from the Krishnanagar seat once again. The announcement of candidates by TMC for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal deals a major blow to the INDIA bloc, as Mamata Banerjee had earlier declared her party's intention to go solo in the state. However, behind the scenes, talks between TMC and Congress are reportedly still ongoing.

Responding to the development, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh emphasized the party's desire for a respectable seat-sharing agreement with the TMC, stressing the importance of negotiations in finalizing such agreements. Ramesh reiterated Congress' stance on fighting the BJP alongside the INDIA group, highlighting the complexities of coalition politics in the state.

Meanwhile, in another significant move, Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is set to defend his Diamond Harbour seat in the upcoming elections, adding another layer of intrigue to the electoral landscape.

The TMC's candidate list also features several other prominent names, including Gopal Lama from Darjeeling, Nirmal Chandra Roy from Jalpaiguri, Pratima Mondal from Joynagar, and Bapi Haldar from Mathurapur, among others.

In a notable development, actor Sayoni Ghosh has been named as the TMC candidate from the Jadavpur seat, following Mimi Chakraborty's announcement to step down from politics. The decision to field Ghosh underscores the party's efforts to rejuvenate its ranks with fresh faces.

However, amidst the excitement surrounding the candidate list, the TMC has also faced criticism and controversy. The replacement of Basirhat MP Nusrat Jahan with influential leader Haji Nurul Islam has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of the ongoing row in the Sandeshkhali area. Accusations of land grabbing and sexual assault against TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh have cast a shadow over the party's image, with federal agencies probing several cases against him.

As West Bengal braces for a fiercely contested electoral battle, the TMC's candidate list has injected new energy and intrigue into the political landscape, setting the stage for a riveting showdown in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.