Election – TMC Fields Vijay Upadhyay in Jorasanko, Eyes Strong Win
Election – The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified its preparations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, with candidate Vijay Upadhyay expressing strong confidence about securing victory from the Jorasanko constituency.
Upadhyay Confident of Victory in Jorasanko
Vijay Upadhyay, who has been nominated by the TMC from the Jorasanko Assembly seat, stated that the party remains optimistic about retaining the constituency. He emphasized that the achievements and welfare initiatives led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would play a decisive role in influencing voters. According to him, the party’s consistent development work will help them repeat their previous electoral success in the area.
Upadhyay also highlighted his commitment to ensuring that government schemes and development projects reach every household in the constituency if elected.
Candidate Change Signals Strategic Move
In a notable shift, the TMC has replaced sitting MLA Vivek Gupta with Vijay Upadhyay in Jorasanko, which is considered one of the party’s strongholds. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, has not yet announced its candidate for this constituency, leaving room for speculation about its strategy in the region.
The move is being seen as part of the TMC’s broader plan to refresh its candidate list while maintaining its strong voter base.
TMC Announces Full List Ahead of Polls
The candidate announcement comes shortly after the TMC released a comprehensive list of 291 candidates for the upcoming state elections. Polling in West Bengal will take place in two phases, scheduled for April 23 and April 29.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur constituency. She will face BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who currently serves as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. Their contest is expected to be one of the most closely watched battles in the election.
Key Leaders Assigned to Important Seats
Several prominent leaders from the TMC have been fielded across key constituencies. Chandrima Bhattacharya will contest from Dum Dum Uttar, while Madan Mitra has been nominated from Kamarhati. Firhad Hakim, who also serves as the Mayor of Kolkata, will contest from the Kolkata Port seat.
Other candidates include Kunal Ghosh from Beleghata and Dr Shashi Panja from Shyampukur. These selections indicate the party’s effort to place experienced leaders in electorally significant regions.
In a surprising development, former Education Minister Parth Chatterjee has not been given a ticket from Behala Paschim. Instead, Ratna Chatterjee will represent the party in that constituency.
Alliance Strategy and Seat Sharing
The TMC has also confirmed its alliance strategy by allocating three seats to the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM). This decision reflects the party’s intent to strengthen its position in regions where alliances can influence electoral outcomes.
BJP Announces Initial Candidate List
On the other side, the BJP has released its first list of 144 candidates. Suvendu Adhikari will contest not only against Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur but also from Nandigram, a constituency where he had defeated her in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Among other BJP candidates, Agnimitra Paul will contest from Asansol Dakshin, while actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh is set to run from Shibpur. Bankim Chandra Ghosh will represent the party from Chakdaha.
Election Timeline and Key Dates
The upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases, with voting scheduled on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4, and the entire election process is expected to conclude by May 6.
With major parties finalizing their candidates and intensifying campaign efforts, the political landscape in West Bengal is witnessing heightened activity ahead of polling.