West Bengal is set to witness by-elections in six key constituencies on November 13, following the resignation of MLAs who were elected to the Lok Sabha. While the BJP has already announced its candidates, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) revealed its list on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s a look at the TMC candidates for the six constituencies:
- Naihati: Sanat De
- Haroa: Sheikh Rabiul Islam
- Medinipur: Sujay Hazra
- Taldangra: Falguni Singhbabu
- Madarihat: Jayaprakash Toppo
- Sitai: Sangeeta Roy
Among these constituencies, Madarihat in the Alipurduar district is currently held by the BJP, while the other five — Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, and Sitai — are under TMC’s control. TMC aims to not only retain its five strongholds but also wrest Madarihat from the BJP.
In the previous by-elections, TMC had a clean sweep, winning all four contested seats. However, the political landscape has since undergone significant changes, with state-wide unrest surrounding issues like the RG Kar Medical College protests. Whether these political developments influence the upcoming by-elections remains to be seen.
The TMC is gearing up for an intense battle in all six constituencies. With the ruling party’s momentum from the last by-elections, the focus now shifts to whether they can expand their dominance by taking the BJP-held seat in Madarihat.