NewKerala.com

BJP's Second Bengal Polls List: 111 Candidates, 3 Celebrities in Fray

The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its second list of candidates for the West Bengal Assembly elections, covering 111 constituencies. This brings the total number of announced candidates to 255 for the 294-seat house. The list notably includes three candidates from the entertainment industry: Roopa Ganguly, Hiran Chattopadhyay, and Papiya Adhikari. Several prominent leaders and sitting legislators have also been renominated in this round.

Key Points: BJP Announces Second List of 111 Candidates for Bengal Elections

  • BJP announces second list for 111 constituencies
  • Three celebrity candidates fielded
  • Total 255 candidates named so far
  • Key leaders and sitting MLAs renominated
2 min read

BJP announces second list for Bengal polls, names candidates for 111 constituencies

BJP names candidates for 111 more Bengal seats, featuring celebrity candidates Roopa Ganguly, Hiran Chattopadhyay, and Papiya Adhikari. Full list analysis.

"The second list features three candidates from the entertainment industry. - Report"

Kolkata, March 19

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal, naming nominees for 111 more constituencies.

With this, the party has announced a total of 255 candidates for the 294-member House. The first list, released on March 14, contained the names of candidates for 144 constituencies. The remaining 39 candidates are yet to be announced.

However, it is not yet clear whether the BJP will field its own party candidates from the three hill constituencies of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong, or leave them for its hill alliance partner and Bimal Gurung-founded Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

The second list features three candidates from the entertainment industry. Former Rajya Sabha member and actress Roopa Ganguly has been fielded from Sonapur (Dakshin) in South 24 Parganas district, where she will face Trinamool Congress candidate and actress-turned-politician Lovely Moitra.

Actor Hiran Chattopadhyay, also a sitting BJP legislator, is named in the second list. However, instead of his erstwhile constituency of Kharagpur (Sadar) in West Midnapore district, this time Chattopadhyay has been nominated from Shyampur assembly constituency in neighbouring Howrah district.

The party has already announced that former state BJP president and ex-national vice-president Dilip Ghosh will contest from Kharagpur (Sadar) this time.

The third celebrity candidate named in the second list is another actress-turned-politician, Papiya Adhikari, who has been fielded from Tollygunge assembly constituency in South Kolkata.

The party's former Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore constituency, Arjun Singh, is the BJP candidate this time from Noapara in North 24 Parganas district. Senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court, Kaustav Chattopadhya, who joined the BJP from Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is the party's candidate from Barrackpore assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district.

Former party Lok Sabha member from Cooch Behar constituency and former Union Minister of state for home affairs, Nishith Pramanik, is the BJP's candidate from Mathabhanga assembly constituency in the Cooch Behar district this time.

Most of the sitting BJP legislators have been re-nominated this time, both in the first and second lists.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Roopa Ganguly vs Lovely Moitra in Sonapur! That's going to be a very interesting fight to watch. Two actresses turned politicians. Hope the focus remains on development and not just star power. 🤔
V
Vikram M
They still haven't clarified the hill constituencies. The Gorkha vote is crucial in that region. Leaving it to the alliance partner might be a strategic move, but they need to make their stance clear soon.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the shift of Hiran Chattopadhyay to a new constituency. And Dilip Ghosh moving to Kharagpur. Seems like a lot of musical chairs with the tickets. Hope it works out for the party's strategy.
R
Rohit P
With due respect, I have a criticism. While fielding sitting MLAs again shows confidence, it also blocks new blood. The party should have introduced more fresh faces, especially young leaders, to connect with the youth. Just my two paise.
N
Nikhil C
Good to see a senior lawyer like Kaustav Chattopadhya getting a ticket. Barrackpore is a key seat. Having someone with a legal background can be an asset. Let's see if he can translate his court-room skills to the political ground. 👍
M
Meera T

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50