In a notable move, Rekha Patra, symbolizing the spirited drive of Sandeshkhali's women, emerges as the BJP's candidate for the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, unveiled in the party's latest roster on Sunday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has disclosed its second list of candidates, encompassing 19 constituencies in West Bengal, introducing fresh faces and reaffirming some incumbents across different constituencies, adding a tinge of unpredictability to the selections.
With this announcement, the BJP has now unveiled contenders for 38 out of 42 constituencies in West Bengal, withholding the reveal for Diamond Harbour, Asansol, Birbhum, and Jhargram.
As anticipated, former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay enters the fray from the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency in East Midnapore.
Opposing him are Trinamool Congress’ Debangshu Bhattacharya and CPI-M’s Sayan Banerjee.
Meanwhile, Tapas Roy, a six-time legislator from Trinamool Congress who recently transitioned to BJP, secures a nomination from Kolkata-Uttar Constituency, where Sudip Bandopadhyay seeks re-election for Trinamool Congress, and Pradip Bhattacharya represents the Left Front-supported Congress.
In Barrackpore, the BJP puts forward Arjun Singh, the incumbent MP who had initially won as a BJP candidate in 2019 but later joined Trinamool Congress in 2022, only to return to BJP due to his non-nomination by the ruling party this time around.
A noteworthy swap in nominations involves the BJP's former national vice-president and state president in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, now contesting from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency, replacing S.S. Ahluwalia, the incumbent BJP Lok Sabha member.
Agnimitra Paul, BJP legislator from Asansol (South) Assembly constituency and a fashion designer, steps up as the party's nominee for Medinipur.
The spotlight, however, falls on Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas district, with its association with Sandeshkhali, which gained national attention due to the local populace's outcry against alleged violence and harassment of women by certain Trinamool Congress leaders.
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