Now a few days are left for the first phase of voting in West Bengal. The BJP has so far released a list of 282 candidates for the eight-phase assembly elections in the state. Out of the 282 candidates declared, 46 are those who have joined BJP less than two years after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 34 of them are from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). There are six candidates from CPM, four from Congress, and one each from forwarding Bloc and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). At the same time, out of 46 candidates who have joined the BJP in the last two years, 36 are the faces who have joined the BJP in the last six months.
We cannot give tickets to everyone - Samik Bhattacharya
Out of the total 294 assembly seats in Bengal, BJP has released the names of its candidates for 282 seats, while one seat (Baghmundi) in Purulia district is left for its alliance partner Azu. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said Bengal has only 294 seats. We cannot give tickets to everyone. Some will meet and some will not. We have to accept it. Those who are vandalizing, tearing up posters, and setting fire to party offices cannot be members of any political party. We do not approve of such behavior and we strongly condemn it. '
Party workers and leaders disappointed over not getting tickets
When the BJP released the list of candidates in the first two phases, which included districts like Purulia, Bankura, East, and West Midnapore. Later on 14 March, the BJP released its second list, after which party workers and leaders were disappointed. Party workers from Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, and Howrah districts staged a sit-in outside the BJP office demanding change in candidates. Sowan Chatterjee and his aide Baisakhi Banerjee left the party due to a lack of tickets.
Conspiracy and betrayal will not last long - Baisakhi Banerjee
Sowan Chatterjee was expected to field from Behala Purba, which he won as TMC MLA in 2011 and 2016. Sowan Chatterjee said in a letter to West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh that he and Baisakhi Banerjee no longer want to be in the party. In a Facebook post, Baishakhi Banerjee said, she felt humiliated for not getting the ticket and said that the conspiracy and betrayal will not last long.