The West Bengal BJP on Tuesday released what could be its final list of candidates for the Assembly polls. Interestingly, actor Mithun Chakraborty’s name was missing in the list of 13 names.
From Rashbehari, the seat many believed Mithun would fight, the BJP has fielded Lieutenant General (retired) Subrata Saha. The prestigious south Kolkata seat was believed to have been kept for the actor ever since he shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP’s mega rally in Kolkata on 7 March.
Mithun, however, is scheduled to campaign in Nandigram on 30 March for Suvendu Adhikari. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be present at that roadshow.
Former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri, fielded earlier from Alipurduar in North Bengal and then replaced, is back as candidate from Balurghat.
A key change in the list released on Tuesday pertains to Gaighata in North 24 Parganas district where the new candidate is Subrata Thakur. He is the brother of Shantanu Thakur, the BJP MP representing the Matua community, believed to be upset with the party for failing to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and lifting the uncertainty over their citizenship.