The BJP leadership is in the process of selecting a candidate to field against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the by-election date for Bhabanipur. The names of possible candidates doing the rounds are actor-turned politician Rudranil Ghosh, former governor Tathagata Roy and Dr Anirban Ganguly.
In Mamata Banerjee’s home turf of Bhabanipur, from where the CM got elected twice in 2011 and 2016, a high decibel triangular contest is likely to take place. The Trinamool Congress announced the names of three candidates for the bypolls for Bhabanipur, Samserganj and Jangipur. While Mamata Banerjee will contest from Bhabanipur, Jakir Hossain will contest from Jangipur and Amirul Islam from Samserganj.
Meanwhile, the Congress, at an internal meeting on Monday, will decide whether they will field a candidate independently or jointly with the Left Front.
“The names of several heavyweights, including Tathagata Roy, former Trinamool MP Dinesh Tribedi, BJP leader Anirban Ganguly and Rudranil Ghosh, are doing the rounds,” BJP sources said.
When ET contacted BJP state President Dilip Ghosh, he said, “We have a process of selection of the candidates and it will be done following proper procedure. The names will be finalised by the central leadership.” The state leadership proposes a number of names which are approved by the central leadership.
Rudranil Ghosh, who fought from the Bhabanipur seat in the recently-held assembly polls, was defeated by Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. Sobhandeb later vacated the seat for Mamata Banerjee. Rudranil said that if the party fields him against Mamata Banerjee he is ready to contest. Anirban Ganguly fought from Bolpur constituency on a BJP ticket, but was defeated.
“I know nothing about this. There is rumour. I will only comment about it if my party asks me to comment about it,” Tathagata Roy said.
Trinamool Congress supporters are wasting no time in campaigning in Bhabanipur –– setting up posters and banners of Mamata Banerjee and creating wall graffiti of ‘Khela Hobe’.
West Bengal Transport Minister Firhad Hakim, while painting a wall graffiti for Banerjee, said, “It is a kind of celebration for us, not a poll battle or campaign. It is a celebration for the party as the “state’s daughter” will win.”
A supporter claimed that Mamata Banerjee will get more votes than former MLA Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
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