Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has played a big bet in the by-election being held on Nandigram assembly seat of West Bengal. BJP has made Hasirani Rath, mother of Chandranath Rath, PA of current Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari, as its candidate from Nandigram. Apart from this, Shakharav Sarkar has been made the candidate for Rejinagar assembly seat. After winning the elections in 2026, Shubhendu Adhikari had left the Nandigram seat, due to which by-elections are being held here. Now he is MLA from Bhawanipur assembly seat.
Earlier there was discussion that Mamata Banerjee herself can contest elections from this seat because now she is not even an MLA. However, Trinamool Congress has fielded Sanchita Dey from here. At the same time, BJP, which had won this seat with difficulty last time, has tried to create a wave of sympathy this time by fielding the mother of Chandranath Rath, who was very close to Shubhendu Adhikari.
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What happened to Chandranath Rath?
Chandranath Rath was murdered just days after the election results in West Bengal. After this murder, Trinamool Congress had also demanded strict action. Chandranath Rath was going somewhere in his car. He lost his life when his car was fired upon in Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district.
Chandranath Rath, who was in the Air Force, was working with Subhendu Adhikari for a long time. Even then there was discussion that Chandranath would get a bigger role if Subhendu Adhikari became the CM. However, he was murdered before this could happen.
Women vs Women in Nandigram
Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has made Sanchita Pradhan Dey its candidate for the Nandigram assembly seat. Now BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath and made the contest woman versus woman. At the same time, Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan and Ritabrata Banerjee's faction has fielded Mohammad Atesmul Haq. CPI has made Shati Gopal Giri its candidate from here. In the last election, Trinamool Congress's Pabitra Kar had got 1,17,636 votes and Subhendu Adhikari, who contested on BJP ticket, had won by getting 1,27,301 votes.
Preparation for exciting competition in Rejinagar
Rejinagar assembly seat had fallen vacant due to the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir. He also won the elections from two seats and left this seat. He has fielded his son Ghulam Nabi Azad. In comparison to them, Mamata Banerjee's TMC has fielded Rabiul Alam Choudhary, Ritabrata Banerjee's faction has fielded Sheikh Saifuddin, Congress has fielded Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, CPM has fielded Syed Asad Ali and now BJP has fielded Shakharav Sarkar.
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The by-elections of these two seats are considered very important for the survival of Mamata Banerjee. If TMC, which is broken after the election defeat, wins these two seats, then its cadre may get a boost. At the same time, if you face defeat again, your morale may be shattered. At the same time, both the seats are a matter of prestige for Shubhendu Adhikari and BJP. One seat has become vacant due to the resignation of Shubhendu himself.
This news is being updated.