The BJP on Monday released its first list of 144 candidates for the West Bengal assembly elections and fielded Suvendu Adhikari from Mamata Banerjee’s Bhawanipore seat in south Kolkata, along with his stronghold Nandigram, where he defeated the chief minister in 2021.
The party also nominated former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta from Rashbehari, former state unit chief Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar in West Midnapore, and designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Paul from Asansol South.
The BJP announced the candidate list a day after authorities declared the two-phase polling schedule in the state.
Adhikari Vows to Defeat Mamata Again, BJP Eyes Bengal Breakthrough
Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence after the announcement and said he would win both seats and defeat Mamata Banerjee again, asserting that the BJP can challenge the ruling Trinamool Congress even in its strongholds.
A day earlier, Adhikari told the media that he preferred to contest from Nandigram, where he defeated Banerjee by 1,956 votes in 2021. He said Nandigram remained close to his heart but added that the party would take the final call.
Adhikari made the remarks as BJP central leaders, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, prepared the candidate list in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth consecutive term after securing a landslide victory in 2021, backed by her party’s grassroots network, strong personal appeal among women, and welfare schemes. The BJP is aiming for its first win in West Bengal by capitalising on anti-incumbency, corruption allegations, and political polarisation.
Adhikari takes on Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata seat again
Nandigram played a key role in Mamata Banerjee’s rise to power in 2011. She led a farmers’ land rights movement there with Suvendu Adhikari by her side. Adhikari later became the MLA from the constituency.
The BJP has now fielded Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021, for a fresh contest against her. This time, he will contest from Bhabanipur, her current Kolkata seat. The party has also nominated him again from Nandigram.
Adhikari, now the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, is seeking a rematch with Banerjee. She had moved to Bhabanipur after her 2021 defeat in Nandigram.
It is still unclear where Banerjee will contest from. However, speculation suggests she may return to Bhabanipur. The seat has elected her three times since 2011.
In 2021, the BJP pitched Adhikari against Banerjee in Nandigram. The contest turned into a high-stakes battle. Confident of her support, Banerjee chose to fight from the seat. However, Adhikari defeated her in a close contest.