BJP’s big gamble on chosen 4 fails as Mamata looks set to retain Bengal

In do-or-die battle for West Bengal Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out four members of Parliament to add heft to its line-up of candidates. The list included Swapan Dasgupta, Babul Surpiyo, Locket Chatterjee and Nisith Pramanik. So, where do they stand as Trinamool Congress looks set to return to power. At 1 pm, three former MPs were trailing while one was ahead by a slender margin:

Swapan Dasgupta, Trailing

Oxford-educated Swapan Dasgupta is trying his luck from Tarakeswar. Dasgupta resigned his Rajya Sabha seat to contest the assembly polls and is pitted against Ramendu Singha Roy from this pilgrimage town.

Babul Surpiyo, Trailing

BJP’s former lawmaker from Asansol, Babul Supriyo, has been fielded by his party from Trinamool stronghold Tollygunge. Tollygunge, the centre of Bangla film industry, is considered a safe seat for Trinamool’s Aroop Biswas.

Locket Chatterjee, Trailing

This former member of Parliament from Hoogly is contesting from Chunchura. The actor-turned-politician is credited with building the BJP’s women’s wing and contributed to the party’s meteoric rise in West Bengal. She is pitted against Trinamool sitting MLA Asit Mazumder.

Nisith Pramanik, Leading

The former Cooch Behar member of Parliament is contesting from Dinhata against sitting MLA Udayan Guha