Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress announces candidates for 25 constituencies in West Bengal
Rohit Khanna | TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 21:21 IST
KOLKATA: The Congress on Monday announced candidates for 25 constituencies in the state and decided not to contest from Jadavpur and Bankura. While it has already announced names of candidates for the 11 constituencies earlier, the party has decided to bring a surprise candidate for the Kolkata Uttar seat, sources said. The Congress election committee, which continued meeting till late night, is yet to decide on Asansol and Ghatal seats.
The surprise element is also likely to come with the Congress president Rahul Gandhi giving a go ahead to nomination of former CPM legislator Lakshman Seth. Three-time MP from Tamluk Seth, who had joined the Congress barely a month back, was handpicked by the party’s Bengal president Somen Mitra. After being expelled from the CPM, Seth had joined the BJP for a brief while in 2015. While he was scheduled to join the Congress a few months back, lack of consensus among party members had put his induction on hold for some time. “I know most of the Congress workers personally. It will not be difficult for me to earn their trust,” Seth said.
Former president Pranab Mukherjee’s sister-in-law Suvra Ghosh was nominated from the Howrah constituency. Ghosh, who is a vice president with the Pradesh Congress Committee, will be the first timer. Mita Chakraborty, an entrepreneur and managing director of a technology solution company was fielded from Kolkata Dakshin constituency. Mita, an active member of the Professional Congress, has already been the state coordinator of the Congress’ social media team.
Congress leader from Purulia, Nepal Mahato is a two-time MLA from Purulia’s Baghmundi. Close to Somen Mitra, Mahato was appointed a working president of the party after Mitra assumed the office of president. Amid rumours of his switching side, Congress workers in Purulia started writing walls in favour of Mahato, even before his name was announced. Pradesh Mahila Congress president Subrata Datta has also been nominated to contest from Barasat.
The surprise element is also likely to come with the Congress president Rahul Gandhi giving a go ahead to nomination of former CPM legislator Lakshman Seth. Three-time MP from Tamluk Seth, who had joined the Congress barely a month back, was handpicked by the party’s Bengal president Somen Mitra. After being expelled from the CPM, Seth had joined the BJP for a brief while in 2015. While he was scheduled to join the Congress a few months back, lack of consensus among party members had put his induction on hold for some time. “I know most of the Congress workers personally. It will not be difficult for me to earn their trust,” Seth said.
Former president Pranab Mukherjee’s sister-in-law Suvra Ghosh was nominated from the Howrah constituency. Ghosh, who is a vice president with the Pradesh Congress Committee, will be the first timer. Mita Chakraborty, an entrepreneur and managing director of a technology solution company was fielded from Kolkata Dakshin constituency. Mita, an active member of the Professional Congress, has already been the state coordinator of the Congress’ social media team.
Congress leader from Purulia, Nepal Mahato is a two-time MLA from Purulia’s Baghmundi. Close to Somen Mitra, Mahato was appointed a working president of the party after Mitra assumed the office of president. Amid rumours of his switching side, Congress workers in Purulia started writing walls in favour of Mahato, even before his name was announced. Pradesh Mahila Congress president Subrata Datta has also been nominated to contest from Barasat.
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