In a significant political move, the BJP on Monday fielded Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari from Bhabanipur — the constituency currently represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He will also contest from Nandigram, where he defeated Banerjee in the 2021 Assembly elections, according to the BJP’s first list of candidates for 144 seats in the upcoming two-phase West Bengal polls.
Both constituencies are politically very important and Adhikari in the fray sets the stage for a possible face-off between him and Banerjee once again.
Besides Adhikari, the list includes several senior party leaders: Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar, sitting MLA Agnimitra Paul from Asansol Dakshin and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta from Rashbehari. Actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh has been fileded from Shibpur and religious leader Swami Mangalananda Puri Maharaj will contest from Uluberia Dakshin.
The list was released a day after the Election Commission announced that the West Bengal Assembly polls will be held in two phases—April 23 and April 29.
Regarding the decision to conduct the elections in just two phases, down from eight in 2021, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the Commission held detailed deliberations before finalising the schedule. “In our considered opinion, it was necessary to reduce the number of phases to a level that is administratively feasible and convenient for voters and officials,” he said.