Trinamul Congress fields 45 women, 57 Muslims

Stealing a march over the Opposition, the Trinamul Congress announced its list of candidates immediately after the Election Commission declared the schedule for Assembly election in Delhi. The Left Front and Congress are still struggling to forge an electoral tieup and the BJP is searching for suitable candidates.

Announcing the list at her Kalighat home, Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee said that nearly all sitting MLAs have been renominated. She has drastically increased the number of Muslim candidates from 38 to 57 and women candidates from 31 to 45. As is her wont, Ms Banerjee has fielded several celebrities from various fields like sports, films.

Unlike in 2011 when it contested in alliance with the Congress, the Trinamul Congress has decided to go it alone and, therefore, it is contesting all 294 seats. “In Bengal, the TMC will fight alone. The CPI(M) did nothing in 34 years. In fact, it ruined the state through politics of strike and bandhs. Now, the CPI(M) and Congress have entered into an unethical and unprincipled alliance and their workers are organising joint rallies. The BJP also does not like TMC because we ensure communal harmony in the state,” Ms Banerjee said.

The list has 94 new faces. The TMC is fielding Indian cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla from Howrah North, Indian footballer Rahim Nabi from Pandua in Hooghly, Vaishali Dalmiya, the daughter of former CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya from Bally, film star Soham from Barjora in Bankura. In 2011 elections, the TMC had fielded 228 candidates as it was a poll partner of the Congress and the SUCI which had fielded candidates in 64 seats and two seats respectively. Ms Banerjee dropped former IPS officer-turned party MLA Sultan Singh from Bally, K.P. Singh Deo from Purulia, Mohammad Sohrab Ali from Raniganj. However, as expected Madan Mitra has been renominated from Kamarhati despite being tainted by Saradha chit fund scam. He will possibly be the first candidate in Bengal who will be contesting Assembly election while lodged in a jail.

Sitting MP from Tamluk Subhendu Adhikari has been fielded from Nandigram Assembly seat. Bhaichung Bhutia, who had unsuccessfully contested 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Darjeeling, has been fielded from Siliguri. Singer Indranil Sen who had lost Lok Sabha election from Berhampore in 2014 has been given ticket from Sreerampore seat. The constituencies of Abul Kasem Mollah and Soumen Mahapatra have been changed.

Former heavyweight CPI(M) minister Abdur Rezzak Molla has been fielded from Bhangar while state Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind chief Siddiqullah Chowdhury has been nominated from Mangalkot.

Former GJM MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri has been made a candidate from Kalimpong and former GNLF leader Santa Chhetri will fight from Kurseong seat. By fielding them Ms Banerjee is trying to challenge the GJM hegemony in the hills. TMC will announce its election manifesto on next Friday.