The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the name of Priyanka Tibrewal, a 41-year-old lawyer, who will contest the Bypoll elections for the Bhabanipur seat against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 30th. Banerjee, who had lost elections from her bastion Nendigram during the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year to his longtime compatriot Suvendu Adhikari, is looking to win thebypoll and enter the Vidhan Sabha again. Mamata's confidant Suvendu Adhikar ditched the TMC, contested against her from Nandigram on BJP ticket and emerged victorious. Meanwhile, Congress has announced that the party will not be fielding any candidate for the Bhabanipur by-polls. Now, the BJP again aims to defeat Banerjee by picking Tibrewal against the TMC supremo. The result of the by-poll elections would be announced on 3rd October Here are 10 points about Priyanka Tibrewal, the lawyer who is aiming to do in Bhabanipur what Suvendu Adhikari did in Nandigram:
1. Priyanka Tibrewal started her journey as a member of BJP’s legal cell in 2014, Priyanka is a senior member of the party’s Yuva Morcha.
2. The 41-year old is an alumna of south Kolkata’s Hazra Law College and completed her MBA from Thailand’s Assumption University.
Also Read | Beating around the bush: SC on Centre's denial on detailed affidavit in Pegasus row
3. Tibrewal had also contested elections from Entally constituency during the last Assembly elections but failed to clinch a victory after losing to Trinamool Congress’ sitting MLA Swarnakamal Saha by around 57,000.
4. She has also been a counsel for many BJP leaders, including former minister Babul Supriyo.
5. Tibrewal had a significant role in getting the Supreme Court to opt for a CBI probe in the post-poll violence earlier this year.
6. She was one of the petitioners and BJP’s counsel and sought compensation for the victims and a CBI inquiry into the alleged murders and rapes.
Also Read | PETA India to Modi: Declare Gandhi Jayanti as 'National Meat-Free Day'
7. After the announcement, BJP leaders said Tibrewal “brought justice for the victims of political violence by relentlessly fighting against Mamata Banerjee and her administration”.
8. Many TMC leaders have been calling Tibrewal out for being young and inexperienced, stating that Mamata would sweep the seat. However, Tibrewal’s confidence has not yet dwindled. She said that she is “seeking compensation for the victims and a CBI inquiry into the alleged murders and rapes.
9. While kickstarting the poll campaign along with Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, Tibrewal attacked the TMC and Mamata Banerjee over post-poll violence. She said that the people of the state have the right to live but this right is being taken away by the CM and her party.
10. The BJP narrowed down the list to two — Priyanka Tibrewal and Biswajit Sarkar, elder brother of BJP’s post-poll violence victim in Kolkata. On Friday, the BJP finally announced Priyanka’s name as party candidate against the state chief minister.
