Mamata fields Shatrughan Sinha, Babul Supriyo in West Bengal by-polls
By Express News Service
KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Sunday introduced the names of two former Union ministers Shatrughan Sinha and Babul Supriyo as its candidates for the by-poll in Asansol Lok Sabha and Ballugunge Assembly constituencies respectively to be held on April 12. Sinha had give up the BJP in 2019 and Supriyo in 2021.
“Happy to announce on behalf of the All India Trinamool Congress that Sri Shatrughan Sinha, former Union Minister and famed actor, can be our candidate in Lok Sabha by-election from Asansol. Sri Babul Supriyo, former Union Minister and famous singer, can be our candidate in Vidhansabha by-election from Ballygunge,’’ TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
Election in Asansol was necessitated after Supriyo resigned because the Constituency’s MP in October final yr, a month after he had give up the BJP and joined the TMC. Ballygunge Assembly seat fell vacant after TMC minister Subrata Mukherjee died of cardiac arrest in November final yr.
Supriyo, the singer-turned-politician was the one sitting MP amongst 18 BJP lawmakers elected within the 2019 Lok Sabha polls who defected to the TMC.
In July final yr, Supriyo had introduced that he had give up lively politics after he was dropped as Union Minister from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
Supriyo’s political profession was in query after he was not fielded in any of the 4 Assembly constituencies—Dinhata, Shantipur, Khardah and Gosaba—the place by-elections had been held on October 30 final yr. The TMC had snatched two of the seats, Dinhata and Shantipur, which had been received by the BJP within the 2021 Assembly elections.
‘’Supriyo stored quiet since he joined the TMC. We weren’t certain what can be his political destiny. Since the chief minister has introduced his title as a candidate from Ballygune, it appears, Supriyo is all set to start his new lively political innings in our occasion,’’ mentioned a TMC chief.
Fielding a star candidate like Sinha within the Asansol LS constituency is alleged to be a strategically good transfer by Mamata. ‘’Supriyo was elected from Asansol for consecutive two phrases. But within the civic polls, the TMC secured victory in Asansol municipal company space.
‘’She (Mamata) is determined to grab away the Lok Sabha constituency from the saffron camp. Eyeing victory within the Lok Sabha seats, which has a substantial variety of non-Bengali electorates who’re acknowledged to be BJP’s sturdy vote-bank, Mamata performed a wise card by fielding Sinha,’’ mentioned a senior TMC chief.
