First-time TMC young brigade raring to prove their mettle

The Trinamul Congress has reposed faith in youngsters, giving them tickets, making them first time candidates for the state polls.

Names like Debangshu Bhattacharya from Chinsurah, Tausif Rahman from Basirhat (North) and Trinankur Bhattacharya from Noapara are some of the names which come to the fore. The party has fielded 103 new candidates.

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Tauseef Rahman from Basirhat (North) in North 24-Parganas is young, vibrant and enthusiastic about his candidature. He says he has learnt a lot from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

But it is a big “responsibility” he says. “There is pressure to fulfill the faith reposed in me by the TMC chairperson and national general secretary. I’m very confident of doing well, including Sandeshkhali. We have to work very hard and with all honesty. My first aim would be to build a small 50-bed clinic or hospital for the local people at Basirhat (North) as people now have to travel far for treatment. The idea and blueprint has already been shown by our national general secretary through Sebaashray camps,” he said.

“After meeting Abhishek Banerjee my whole thought process and dynamics for politics has changed. He has shown how selflessly and positively he works for the people. We have to work with integrity and maintain dignity at all times. If we cannot serve people at this age, then we need not be in politics,” said Tauseef.

Another youth leader is Debangshu Bhattacharya, who contested for Lok Sabha from Tamluk in 2024.

The state TMC IT cell head takes pride in being one of the four TMC candidates, who are below 31. The young Turk has lots of dreams. He has started #newChinsurah, campaign in his social media, which explains his desire to develop the Assembly constituency anew. “It would include solving people’s issues, solving their problems and making them happy. I’m in the process of studying the area and the people’s demands. The goal is to create a new Chinsurah in five years,” said Debangshu, adding, “I am grateful to Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee for trusting in me.”

After contesting as a LS candidate with seven Vidhan Sabha constituencies, fighting for just one is easy for him. “I feel a lot more confident this time. Chinsurah has a very cultured, educated electorate, which makes my job of canvassing for votes easier,” added the youth leader.

President of Trinamul Chhatra Parishad, Trinankur Bhattacharya, is a first-time contestant from Noapara in North 24-Parganas. He too pays gratitude to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee for his candidature. “I will work with all honesty and faith so that the people do not give up their hope on the young generation. I have been involved with the people here in Noapara for the last 18 years. Mamata Banerjee has always said that my work should be my identity. I will try to follow in her footsteps,” said the student leader.

Ritabrata Banerjee, a TMC MP in the Rajya Sabha, will contest from Uluberia East in Howrah. Ritabrata says he is a non-partisan person and will be working as per the organisational requirements.

Switching to his new role Ritabrata said: “There is nothing personal for me. I have served the tea belt with dignity, have been the state president of INTTUC and have worked as an MP in the Rajya Sabha. In Parliament you need a different skill set and in Assembly polls, you need different skills. This election is to decide what Mamata Banerjee has done for the people of Bengal.

The INTTUC leader has already started speaking to the people in his new constituency, Uluberia East.

Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation chairperson Sabyasachi Dutta, has been assigned a new Assembly constituency of Barasat this time. A two time MLA from New Town Rajarhat, he is not new to Barasat either. “I will be working with the party set up in Barasat. I’ve been part of the Barasat organisational set up till now and will be talking to MP Kakali di (Ghosh Dastidar),” he said.

Sabyasachi Dutta was made the TMC Barasat organisational district chairperson in June, last year.