New Delhi, March 16 The BJP on Monday released its first list of 144 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, fielding Suvendu Adhikari from Bhabanipur in Kolkata, a seat currently held by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
According to the list, Dilip Ghosh will contest from Kharagpur Sadar, and Biman Mahto from Salboni, both in Paschim Medinipur district. Swapan Dasgupta will also contest the Rasbehari seat in south Kolkata.
Sumita Sinha will contest from Kanthi Uttar in Purba Medinipur district, Biman Ghosh from Pursurah in Hooghly district, while Madhavi Mahalder has been fielded from Kultali in South 24 Parganas district.
Anima Datta will contest from Palashipara in Nadia district, while Lakshikant Sahu has been named the BJP candidate from Jhargram, according to the list.
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee had won the by-election in Bhabanipur in 2021, which was crucial for her to continue as the chief minister after her defeat in Nandigram at the hands of Suvendu Adhikari.
The 294 seats in West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases – on April 23 and April 29 – with the counting scheduled for May 4.