Sikha Mitra, the wife of late Congress leader Somen Mitra, found her name in Bharatiya Janata Party’s 148 candidates list for the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal. The list said that she will be contesting from Chowringhee’s assembly seat. However, shortly after the list was announced, she was quick to respond and say that her name was announced without consent, adding that she will not enter the poll fray.
Sikha also discounted the talks of her joining the BJP, which started after she met with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. “No, I am not contesting from anywhere. My name has been announced without my consent. Also, I am not joining the BJP,” PTI quoted her as saying.
Earlier on Thursday, BJP announced its candidates’ list for the last four phases of the West Bengal assembly election, rewarding around 20 turncoats and fielding party heavyweights Mukul Roy and Rahul Sinha.
Roy’ son Subranghshu, a sitting TMC MLA, state BJP Mahila Morcha president Agnimitra Paul, film personalities Rudranil Ghosh, Srabanti Chattopadhyay and Parno Mitra were among those given tickets by the saffron party.
Roy, BJP national vice-president and former union minister, is back in the electoral fray after a gap of two decades.
He will contest from Krishnanagar Uttar seat, which is dominated by the Matua community. He had unsuccessfully contested election on a TMC ticket in 2001.
BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition in the state, has also fielded sports personalities and a scientist for the high stakes battle in the state.
However, in some cases, the saffron party has not given nominations to turncoats from their home seats to avoid dissent.
BJP has so far announced names of five sitting MPs, including Union Minister Babul Supriyo, as its candidates for the state election.