Swapna Barman, the Trinamool Congress candidate for the Rajganj Assembly seat in Jalpaiguri district and an Asian Games gold-medallist athlete, faces uncertainty even before submitting her nomination papers. Despite being a railway employee, she is under internal inquiry by the Railways for allegedly joining a political party. Swapna claims she submitted her resignation letter on March 16, but the Railways have not acted promptly, leading her to file a petition with the Calcutta High Court.
Swapna, who joined the Railways in 2020 and serves as a Staff and Welfare Inspector, recently joined the Trinamool Congress. However, the Railways had earlier charged her with disciplinary misconduct for participating in a political rally. With her resignation not accepted and the necessary No Objection Certificate pending, she may face challenges in filing her nomination papers. To address this, she has petitioned the Calcutta High Court, urging the Railways to expedite the acceptance of her resignation.
Amidst these legal challenges, Swapna Barman has faced personal tragedy as well. Her father recently passed away after a period of illness, impacting her ability to fully engage in the election campaign. This unfortunate event, coupled with the uncertainties surrounding her candidacy, adds further complexity to her political journey.
