Kolkata, 15 September (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced its candidates for the upcoming by-elections to the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. The party has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of late Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, from Nandigram. From Rejinagar, the BJP has nominated Shankar Bhowmik Sarkar, former Murshidabad district BJP president and a member of the party’s state committee.

Speculation over Hasirani Rath’s candidature from Nandigram had been doing the rounds for the past few days. Before the BJP formally announced her name, Hasirani offered prayers at the Siddheshwar Shiva Temple and Janakinath Temple in Reyapara, Nandigram, on Tuesday morning. She subsequently indicated that she would contest the election.

Chandranath Rath was shot dead on May 6 in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas. He was working as Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant at the time. Rath was sitting in the front passenger seat of a car when motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at him and the driver. The driver was also injured in the attack. Rath was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The state police initially investigated the case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The probe was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Chandranath’s ancestral home was in Chandipur in East Midnapore district. Following his death, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had assured the family of his support. He also attended the last rites and assured the family that efforts would be made to ensure justice. Hasirani Rath had then expressed faith in the Chief Minister. She has now been chosen as the BJP’s candidate for Nandigram.

Hasirani Rath said she had received a message from the Chief Minister and hoped to receive the full support of the party organisation. She said most of the work expected by the people of Nandigram had already been undertaken by Adhikari, who had represented the constituency twice and is now the Chief Minister. She added that she would work till her last breath to keep the people of Nandigram happy.

Polling for both Nandigram and Rejinagar will be held on October 6, while September 16 is the last date for filing nominations. The Left Front, Congress and both factions of the Trinamool Congress have already announced their candidates.

In Nandigram, the Trinamool Congress faction led by Mamata Banerjee has fielded Sanchita Pradhan De, while the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has nominated Mohammad Ehtashul Haque. The CPI has nominated Shantigopal Giri on behalf of the Left Front, while the Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan.

In Rejinagar, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool faction has nominated Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction has fielded Sheikh Safiuddin Zaman. The CPI(M) has nominated Syed Asad Ali and the Congress has fielded Abdullahil Kafi. The Left Front constituent RSP has also fielded Bikash Chandra Mishra from Rejinagar after failing to reach an agreement on seat-sharing.

In the previous Assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari contested both Nandigram and Bhabanipur and won both seats. He subsequently vacated the Nandigram seat, necessitating the bypoll. Similarly, All India Janata Party leader Humayun Kabir contested both Rejinagar and Naoda and won both constituencies before vacating the Rejinagar seat. For the bypoll, he has fielded his son Ghulam Nabi Azad, also known as Robin.

The results of the by-elections to both constituencies will be declared on October 9. However, the Election Commission is yet to decide which of the two Trinamool Congress factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee will be allotted the party’s ‘Jora Phool’ election symbol in Nandigram and Rejinagar. A decision is expected from the Commission this week.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh