Speculation is rife that Kirti Azad, a member of the legendary Kapil’s Devils team of 1983, is likely to be the Trinamul Congress candidate for the Durgapur – Burdwan seat and his name will be officially announced during the Brigade rally on 10 March.

Trinamul chairperson Mamata Banerjee’s surprise selection during the 2022 Asansol Lok Sabha bypolls was Bihari babu Shatrughan Sinha and later her selection proved to be a masterstroke after the over three lakhs margin victory of the actor-turned politician from Asansol.

“I have huge respect for Mamata Banerjee and have a long relationship with her, she has also given me my bhai phonta. I urge people to join the Janagarjan Brigade rally to further raise our voice against the fight against Narendra Modi throughout India,” he added.

He is the grandson of Bhagawat Jha Azad, the former congress chief minister of undivided Bihar. “Didi will decide who will be the candidate of TMC in Durgapur – Burdwan. Kirti Azad is our party member and leader,” said Narendrnath Chakraborty, district TMC president.

Once again, to wrest the Durgapur – Burdwan seat from the BJP, TMC is banking  on a non-Bengali star candidate like Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol, it seems. Surendar Singh Ahluwalia, the sitting MP of Durgapur – Burdwan is likely to get ticket once again.

Mr Azad, who joined the TMC during the Brigade rally in 2022, and so far remained inactive suddenly arrived in Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal yesterday evening and accompanied by district president and Pandaveswar MLA, Narendranath Chakraborty offered pujas at a local temple and participated in the TMC’s meetings.

Like in the entire Asansol Lok Sabha seat, two Assembly segments in Durgapur – Burdwan’s Lok Sabha seat – Durgapur East and Durgapur West have vast non-Bengali speaking voters and has proved to be Achilles Heel in both the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly polls.

To counter that the TMC is set to field a star non-Bengali candidate to woo the non-Bengali speaking vote bank in these two Assembly segments, party sources said.

The TMC chairperson has also appointed Kirti Azad earlier as the party observer in Goa.

But since then he was not given any vital post or job. His sudden arrival at Durgapur yesterday evening is leading to speculations.

Earlier, the names of TMC youth leader and actress Sayoni Ghosh were doing the rounds as the Durgapur – Burdwan candidate.