Decode Politics: Abhishek Banerjee’s imprint on TMC’s Lok Sabha list, over half are first-timers

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday released its list of candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, with 25, or more than half of its candidates, first-time contestants. With this, the TMC has attempted to quell any anti-incumbency sentiment that may exist against sitting MPs.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party unveiled the candidates before the public at its “Jana Garjan Rally” at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds, dealing a blow to the INDIA alliance’s hopes of contesting the elections on a united platform against the BJP. The party sprang a surprise by fielding former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Baharampur and Bengali television star Rachana Banerjee, who hosts the popular TV show “Didi No 1” that recently had Mamata Banerjee as a guest. Rachana will take on fellow actor and BJP MP Locket Chatterjee from Hooghly. The party has also fielded incumbent Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Parliament last December, from her seat in Nadia district.

The list, among other things, illustrates the impact of TMC number two and Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, with many leaders believed to be close to him getting a ticket.

Apart from Pathan and Rachana, the other big names on the TMC list are actor-turned-politician Saayoni Ghosh who replaces actor-turned-MP Mimi Chakraborty in Jadavpur. She will take on BJP national executive committee member Anirban Ganguly. TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya will contest from Tamluk while Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik, the TMC’s face in the tea belt in north Bengal who was sent to the Upper House of Parliament last year, will be in the fray from the Alipurduars constituency.

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