The BJP has decided to field former MPs Roopa Ganguly, Nisith Pramanik, Arjun Singh, and Dibyendu Adhikari in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for next month.
In its second list of 111 candidates for West Bengal, released on Thursday, the BJP has retained eight MLAs and fielded two former legislators — Sukra Munda and Tapash Roy.
The BJP has also given ticket to party old-timer Ritesh Tiwari from Kashipur-Belgachhia seat.
With the second list, which is a mix of old guards and youth faces, the BJP has named 255 candidates out of the total 294 Assembly seats in the state.
Lawyers Priyanka Tebriwal, Tarun Jyoti Tiwari, and Kaustav Bagchi have also been fielded by the party. Tebriwal, who had contested against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur in Kolkata during the Assembly bypoll, will contest from Entally this election.
“I am blessed to get the ticket. They have reposed trust in me,” Tebriwal told The Indian Express. “Entally had shown the way after the post-poll violence. I had fought for them and ensured that the victims of the post-poll violence returned home. The win from Entally will be my gift to the party,” she added.
Similarly, Dr Indranil Khan, who had contested the 2021 Assembly polls from Kaba, will this time contest from Behala Paschim.
Rekha Patra has also changed her seat. She had contested from Sandeshkhali in 2021, and now has been fielded from Hingalganj. In Sandeshkhali, the party has fielded Sanat Sardar.
Former MP Roopa Ganguly, who has been fielded by the party from Sonarpur South, said, “ It is a big responsibility. My family was from there (Sonarpur South), and my father was very popular… I leave it to the people of the area to choose me, and I will live up to their expectations.”
While former Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik has been named the party’s candidate from Mathabhanga (SC reserved), former MP Arjun Singh has been fielded from Noapara in the North 24 Parganas district.
In the first list of the BJP, released on Monday, Arjun Singh’s son, Pawan, was named candidate from Bhatpara.
Former MP Dibyendu Adhikari will contest from Egra.
Former MP Roopa Ganguly, who has been fielded by the party from Sonarpur South, said, “ It is a big responsibility. My family was from there (Sonarpur South), and my father was very popular… I leave it to the people of the area to choose me, and I will live up to their expectations.”
Meanwhile, speaking to The Indian Express, former MLA Tapash Roy, who was earlier with the TMC, said that this Assembly election will decide the fate of West Bengal. “I am very happy about my seat. The BJP will have a very good result this time,” Roy said.
Reacting to his candidature, Ritesh Tiwari said that in politics “patience is very important”.
“I was born in Kashipur there and I belong there. The people of the area know what Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh has done. I am confident that I will get the blessings of the people,” he said.
“There are highs and lows. I was suspended from the party for 40 months, but I am back. I have learnt the lesson that in politics, patience is most important,” he added.
Besides Nisith Paramanik, nine other teachers have made it to the second list. They are Koushik Roy from Maynaguri, Mitali Mal from Khargram, Sukanta Biswas from Krishnaganj, Kalyan Chakraborty from Khardaha, Sanat Sardar from Sandeshkhali, Sumanta Mandal from Sagar, Prasanta Bayen from Canning Paschim, Nirmal Khanra from Nandakumar, and Santanu Pramanik from Bhagabanpur.
Apart from Indranil Khan, doctors and professionals named in the list are Dr Shourya Banerjee from Basirhat Dakshin and Partha Chowdhury from Beleghata.
Four film celebrities, besides Roopa Ganguly, also feature in the list. They are Sarbari Mukherjee from Jadavpur, Papiya Dey (Adhikari) from Tollygunge, and Hiranmoy Chattopadhyaya from Shyampur.
In the last Assembly election, Hiranmoy Chattopadhyay had contested from Kharagpur Sadar.
Spiritual leaders Shruti Shekhar Goswami will contest from Nabadwip and Sunil Maharaj from Behala Purba.
Three ex-servicemen have also been named candidates by the BJP – Naresh Chandra Roy from Dhupguri, Ratan Das from Harishchandrapur, and Tapas Chakraborty from Sagardighi.
Former IPS officer Rajesh Kumar will contest from Jagatdal.
Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases — April 23 and April 29, and the counting of votes will take place on May 4.