In a surprising move, the Trinamool Congress announced the names for all 42 Lok Sabha seats for the upcoming 2024 election, bypassing ongoing seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc. The announcement, made by Abhishek Banerjee during a march at the Brigade Ground, revealed a significant departure from the expected negotiations with Congress-led partners.
Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan emerged as a notable candidate from Baharampur, a constituency that may see a face-off against Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of the Congress. Despite Trinamool's affiliation with the INDIA bloc, the decision to field Pathan underscores the party's assertive stance in key electoral battles.
Another prominent figure in the list is Mahua Moitra, who was embroiled in a bribe-for-question scam and subsequently expelled from the Lok Sabha. Moitra is set to contest from Krishnanagar, marking her return to the electoral arena after the tumultuous episode.
However, the exclusion of sitting MP Nusrat Jahan from Basirhat raised eyebrows, especially in the wake of controversies surrounding her tenure, notably the Sandeshkhali incident. Haji Nurul Islam is slated to contest from Basirhat, signaling a shift in Trinamool's electoral strategy in the region.
In a significant development, actor Saayoni Ghosh is set to replace Mimi Chakraborty in Jadavpur following Chakraborty's expressed desire to exit politics. Ghosh's entry into the electoral fray adds a new dynamic to the constituency's political landscape.
The decision to field Yusuf Pathan in Baharampur sets the stage for a potential showdown against Congress stalwart Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has held sway over the constituency since 1999. The move underscores Trinamool's determination to assert its dominance in traditional Congress bastions, setting the stage for a fiercely contested electoral battle.
However, the unilateral announcement by Trinamool has sparked tensions within the INDIA bloc, particularly with the Congress expressing its desire for a respectable seat-sharing agreement. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh reiterated the party's commitment to negotiating a collaborative approach to combatting the BJP, emphasizing the need for consensus-driven decisions.
Trinamool's decision to unveil its list without accommodating Congress-led partners underscores the party's resolve to chart its electoral course independently. As the political landscape in West Bengal undergoes significant shifts, the upcoming Lok Sabha election promises to be a keenly contested affair, with Trinamool's bold moves reshaping the electoral calculus in the state.
Here's the full list of 42 candidates of Trinamool Congress
Cooch Behar – Jagdish Chandra Basunia
Alipurduar – Prakash Chik Baraik (Rajya Sabha member)
Jalpaiguri – Nirmal Chandra Rai (MLA)
Darjeeling – Gopal Lama
Raiganj – Krishna Kalyani
Balurghat – Biplab Mitra (minister)
Malda North – Prasun Banerjee (former IPS officer)
Malda South – Shanawaz Ali Rehman
Jangipur – Khalilur Rehman
Baharampur – Yusuf Pathan (Former Indian cricketer)
Murshidabad – Abu Taher Khan
Krishnanagar - Mahua Moitra
Ranaghat – Mukut Mani Adhikari (BJP MLA)
Bangaon - Biswajit das
Barrackpore – Partha Bhowmick (minister)
Dum Dum – Saugata Roy (MP)
Barasat - Kakali Ghosh Dastidar (MP)
Basirhat – Haji Nurul Islam
Joynagar – Pratima Mondal
Mathurapur – Bapi Haldar
Diamond Harbour – Abhishek Banerjee
Jadavpur- Saayoni Ghosh (youth TMC president)
Kolkata South – Mala Roy (MP)
Kolkata North – Sudip Bandopadhyay (MP)
Howrah- Prasun Banerjee (MP)
Uluberia- Sajda Ahmed
Srirampur – Kalyan Banerjee (MP)
Hooghly- Rachana Banerjee (Actor)
Arambagh- Mitali Bagh
Tamluk – Debangshu Bhattacharya
Kanthi – Uttam Barik
Ghatal – Dipak Adhikari (MP)
Jhargram – Kalipada Soren
Medinipur – June Maliah (MLA)
Purulia – Shantiram Mahato
Bankura – Arup Chakraborty (MLA)
Bishnupur – Sujata Mondal Khan (incumbent BJP MP's ex-wife)
Burdwan – Dr Sharmila Sarkar
Burdwan-Durgapur- Kirti Azad (ex-cricketer)
Asansol – Shatrughan Sinha (MP)
Bolur – Asit Mal (MP)
Birbhum – Shatabdi Roy (MP)