The Trinamool Congress has revealed 291 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, excluding most leaders under scrutiny by central agencies for various scandals. Nearly 18% of the nominees are women, with 52 female candidates in the lineup. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be contesting from Bhabanipur in south Kolkata, facing off against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition.
Trinamool’s strategy includes fielding Pabitra Kar, a former local BJP leader and close aide of Adhikari, in Nandigram. The party has refrained from renominating sitting MLAs and former ministers, except for one individual with a history of legal issues. Notably, former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, who spent about three years in jail, has been denied re-nomination.
While most sitting ministers have been re-nominated, the candidate list does not feature any new entrants from the entertainment industry. The Trinamool has aimed for a blend of experienced members and fresh faces. Additionally, three constituencies in North Bengal hills have been assigned to the Trinamool’s ally, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), led by Anit Thapa.
Chief Minister Banerjee expressed confidence in winning at least 226 Assembly constituencies, aiming to diminish the BJP’s presence in West Bengal. In the previous elections, Trinamool secured 215 seats, with the BJP holding 77. The Left Front, Congress, and AISF had a coalition in 2021, but only AISF managed to secure a seat.
