West Bengal Election 2021: Mamata Banerjee will contest from Nandigram.
Kolkata:
Mamata Banerjee will contest the Bengal election from Nandigram and vacate her own seat of Bhowanipore in Kolkata as she takes on the challenge thrown by Suvendu Adhikari, her one-time right hand man who crossed over to the BJP in December.
“I will contest from Nandigram as I stick to my words. From Bhowanipore constituency, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay will be contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections,” said the Bengal Chief Minister, announcing candidates for the election starting March 27.
“This is a smiley election,” she quipped, suggesting that winning would be a breeze.
This sets up the most important contest of this election at Nandigram, with the Chief Minister taking the fight straight to the BJP and, symbolically, all those who ditched her for the BJP. Nandigram is the stronghold of Suvendu Adhikari, who had challenged his former mentor to face him in the constituency. Suvendu Adhikari was virtually the architect of the Trinamool Congress’s 2011 campaign that focused on the fight in Nandigram for farmers’ land being taken over for an industrial project.
He was the BJP’s most important acquisition in Bengal, where the party has launched a gigantic campaign to oust the two-time Chief Minister from power.
“I seek the blessings of people. I appeal to Maa Maati Manush for your faith,” she said, turning to the slogan that first catapulted her to power.
Last evening, Suvendu Adhikari told the BJP leadership that he was confident of defeating Mamata Banerjee by “at least 50,000 votes” in Nandigram. But a final decision on fielding him against the top Trinamool face has been left to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to sources.
Mamata Banerjee had teased a Nandigram fight back in January, weeks after Mr Adhikari deserted her. “I will contest from Nandigram. Nandigram is my lucky place,” she had said, urging voters of her Bhowanipore constituency to understand her decision.
“Nandigram is my big sister, Bhowanipore is my younger sister…I will fight from both if possible. In case I am unable to contest from Bhawanipore, someone else would contest,” she had later added.
She announced 291 candidates; three hill constituencies of Darjeeling, Kurswon and Kalimpong have been left for “friendly parties”.
No candidate above 80 will contest from the Trinamool Congress, the Chief Minister announced.
“We have had to drop a few very old friends. We are thankful to them,” she said.
Among prominent candidates is former IPS officer Humayun Kabir, who had arrested 3 BJP workers for raising “Goli Maaro (shoot the traitor)” slogans at a rally in Chandannagar, where he was police chief. Actors Sayoni Ghosh and June Maliah will also contest the election. So will cricketer Manoj Tiwary.
Ms Banerjee said the Trinamool has fielded 50 women, 42 Muslim candidates, 79 scheduled caste candidates and 17 Scheduled Tribe candidates.
The Bengal election will take place over eight rounds and 33 days in a marathon schedule that the Trinamool alleges was decided on directions from PM Modi and other top BJP leaders.
The results will be out on May 2.