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As the final five phases of polls draw closer, rift among <keyword id="20101713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA-bloc-partners" source="keywords">INDIA bloc partners</keyword>, <keyword id="21533469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress-Left-combine" source="keywords">Congress-Left combine</keyword> and the <keyword id="19942089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TMC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TMC" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TMC">TMC</keyword>, which are fighting separately has intensified, triggering a fierce contest across half of the remaining 36 constituencies in West Bengal driven by local issues such as <keyword id="20074422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeshkhali" source="keywords">Sandeshkhali</keyword> and the SSC scam. TMC's decision to contest independently in the state, rather than as part of the bloc, has led to a three-way contest, with the other contenders being the BJP and the Congress-Left alliance. Nevertheless, both TMC and Congress have asserted that they are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level and are authentic representatives of the opposition front in Bengal. Political analysts suggest that without a dominant national narrative like national security after the 2019 Pulwama attacks, local concerns such as corruption allegations, the cancellation of School Service Commission (SSC) jobs, incidents in Sandeshkhali and implementation of the <keyword id="19965573" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citizenship-Amendment-Act" source="keywords">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA) are altering election dynamics. Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, remarked, "Till a few months ago, it seemed the elections in Bengal will be a bipolar contest between the TMC and BJP. But with issues like corruption and Sandeshkhali gaining prominence, the Left-Congress alliance is fast gaining traction in several seats and turning the polls into a three-cornered contest in at least 18-20 LS segments." He said besides the two and three seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts, where TMC and Congress secured two each and the BJP one in 2019, there are 13 seats spread across South Bengal, where the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance are engaging in intense competition. "It's not that the Left-Congress will win many seats, but in segments where their vote share is above 10 per cent, there is a likelihood that they might influence the outcome, to the disadvantage of either the TMC or the BJP, if they manage to secure two per cent more votes," Islam added. According to sources in TMC and CPI(M), the electoral battleground extends beyond Malda and Murshidabad, encompassing Lok Sabha segments like Dum Dum, Srerampore, Arambagh, Hooghly, Howrah, Barrackpore, Bardhaman-Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, Tamluk, Kolkata North, and Jadavpur, all poised for a three-cornered fight. Notably, eight of these seats were won by TMC and the remaining by BJP in the 2019 parliamentary polls. "The shift in dynamics presents the Congress-Left alliance as a significant player, and its emergence complicates the electoral narrative, transcending the conventional TMC versus BJP dichotomy," political analyst Subhomoy Moitra said. While the Left Front is contesting 30 seats, the Congress has fielded candidates in 12 out of 42 seats. "We wanted an alliance with the Congress, but they were delaying the seat-sharing arrangements, so we decided to go alone. Now the Left-Congress alliance is helping the BJP by trying to eat into our votes," remarked TMC leader Santanu Sen. According to TMC leaders, the breakup of INDIA alliance in Bengal has both electoral advantages and disadvantages. "After the Left and Congress alliance fell apart in West Bengal in 2019, it had led to a four-cornered contest with BJP bagging the entire chunk of the anti-TMC votes in the state," they said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP bagged 18 seats and its vote share rose from 17 to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, despite a 3 per cent rise in vote share, the TMC lost 12 seats, dropping from 34 to 22. The Left drew a blank with a vote share decline from 24 per cent to 6 per cent, and the Congress lost two seats, shrinking its vote share from 9.5 per cent to 5 per cent and bagging just two seats. "Local issues such as corruption and SSC scam are helping the Left-Congress in the state as there is anger among a section of people against the TMC and also against the BJP over the perception of a tacit understanding," a TMC leader said. Analysts observe that <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword>'s intensified criticism of Left and Congress, accusing them of aiding BJP, and the ensuing sharp responses from CPI(M) and Congress, alleging a secret pact between TMC and BJP, as indicative of the growing significance of Left-Congress alliance. Data from various local elections and by-polls conducted after 2021 assembly elections indicate a shift in anti-TMC votes as there has been a resurgence of Left-Congress combine. Incidentally, the BJP had witnessed a decline in its vote share as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha and 38 per cent in 2021 assembly polls. In 2023, violence scarred panchayat polls which covered nearly 70 per cent of the state's electorate, the TMC had bagged 51 per cent of votes whereas the BJP had bagged 22 per cent. The Left-Congress-ISF alliance had, however, bagged 23 per cent votes. The ISF this time, however, has decided to contest alone in 17 seats. Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar emphasized, "People are disenchanted with the TMC and the BJP, as they are both sides of the same coin. People are coming out in large numbers to support the Left-Congress candidates." CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty expressed confidence in the Left-Congress alliance's potential to deliver surprising results in the elections, claiming initial success in breaking bipolar politics in Bengal. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar downplayed the significance of the rift in opposition alliance and the three-cornered fight in various seats. "People know that BJP is only fighting TMC's misrule in Bengal. Those who want to vote against TMC, will vote for us only just like in the 2019 and 2021 polls," he said. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty suggested that TMC stands to gain the most from the three-cornered contest. In minority pockets, the Left-Congress alliance could dent TMC's vote base, potentially aiding BJP's prospects, he noted.

West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

The complete list of Chief Ministers in India for 2024

<keyword id="5269" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Minister">Chief Minister</keyword> and Trinamool Congress chairperson <keyword id="43868" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mamata-Banerjee">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> on Friday released her partys candidate list for all 294 seats in the <keyword id="332351" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengal-assembly">Bengal Assembly</keyword>. "I have given importance to young people this time while choosing the name of candidates. They all are young people," Banerjee said. It appeared to be a star-studded affair as the <keyword id="201042" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trinamool-chief">Trinamool chief</keyword> accommodated a slew of Bengali film and television industry representatives in the party's candidate list for the upcoming elections in March-April. Banerjee said that she will contest from East Midnapore's Nandigram this time. "I will contest from Nandigram. I keep my promises," she said while releasing the list here at her Kalighat residence. State power minister and Trinamool Congress veteran Sovandeb Chatterjee will contest from Bhawanipore seat as Mamata chose to contest from Nandigram. Former Trinamool Councilor and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)'s Member of Mayor in council (MMiC) Debashis Kumar will contest from Rashbihari seat, in place of Chatterjee. The Trinamool supremo also fielded actor Kanchan Mallick, who had joined the Trinamool Congress a few days back, from Hooghly's Uttarpara; Soham Chakraborty from Chandipur; director Raj Chakraborty from Barrackpore; actress Sayantika from Bankura; actress June Malliah from Midnapore sadar; actress Sayani Ghosh from Asansol south; cricketer Manoj Tiwari from Howrah's Shibpur and Kaushani Mukherjee from Krishnanagar north assembly constituency. West Bengal will go to polls in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 2. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-find-my-stalking-airtags-item-safety-alerts/articleshow/81342449.cms">Apple’s new Find My feature updated to prevent stalking as launch of the rumoured AirTags nears</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/regulating-digital-news-is-important-but-freedom-of-press-is-precious/articleshow/81341289.cms">OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heranba-industries-ipo-makes-a-bumper-debut-on-stock-exchanges/articleshow/81342578.cms?upcaceh=2">Heranba Industries makes a bumper debut on stock exchanges — shares soar 44% over the issue price band</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a>

Mamata Banerjee releases TMC's candidate list for Bengal elections

In a star-studded Assembly election battle in West Bengal, in which both the ruling <keyword id="43826" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trinamool-Congress">Trinamool Congress</keyword> and the principal opponent <keyword id="14666" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> fielded more than a dozen actors and actresses as candidates, the trends seem to show that while the Trinamool has successfully reaped the advantage of stardom, the <keyword id="204577" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="saffron-party">saffron party</keyword> has failed to capitalise on the glamour quotient. Tollygunge was considered by many as one of the toughest seats for the Trinamool, where the BJP fielded singer-turned-politician MP Babul Supriyo against seasoned campaigner Arup Biswas. However, after 10 rounds of counting, Biswas was way ahead of Supriyo, taking a lead of more than 10,000 votes. With Biswas increasing the lead after every round, it seems that Supriyo is now fighting a losing battle. In fact, all the major characters from the celluloid fielded by the ruling Trinamool Congress are maintaining lead in their respective constituencies. In Barrackpore -- an industrial town in North 24 Parganas district considered to be the fortress of BJP strongman Arjun Singh -- Trinamool candidate and popular director Raj Chakraborty is leading against BJP's Chandramani Shukla by a margin of nearly 4,000 votes. Two other popular actresses -- June Maliah from Midnapore and <keyword id="1076648" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sayantika-Banerjee">Sayantika Banerjee</keyword> from Bankura -- have maintained their lead against their respective <keyword id="6414910" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bjp-candidates">BJP candidates</keyword>. Actress Sayani Ghosh, who is contesting from the Asansol South constituency from where Babul Supriyo had won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is ahead of BJP candidate and president of BJP Mohila Morcha, Aginmitra Paul, by a narrow margin. Similarly, popular actor and Trinamool nominee Kanchan Mullick is leading in the Uttarpara Assembly constituency in Hooghly district. Not only Babul Supriyo, but the other BJP star candidates have also started showing trends of trailing in different constituencies across the state. Locket Chatterjee -- the sitting MLA from Hooghly who is now contesting from Chuchura -- is trailing by a margin of more than 3,000 votes against Trinamool's Asit Mazumder. Similarly, <keyword id="41885" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rudranil-Ghosh">Rudranil Ghosh</keyword>, who had recently changed camps and joined the BJP, is trailing behind Trinamool veteran and state minister Sovondeb Chatopadhyay. BJP's Payel Sarkar, who is contesting from Behala East, is trailing behind her Trinamool rival Ratna Chatterjee, the estranged wife of former mayor Sovon Chatterjee. Another popular actress <keyword id="1834697" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Srabanti-Chatterjee">Srabanti Chatterjee</keyword>, who is contesting from the Behala West constituency on a BJP ticket, is behind Trinamool heavyweight and state education minister Partha Chatterjee. Similarly, actor-turned-politician and BJP nominee Yash Dasgupta is trailing behind Trinamool's Swati Khandoker in the Chanditala Assembly constituency in Hooghly district. "People have given their votes in favour of the development programmes of Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mamata-Banerjee">Mamata Banerjee</keyword>. It is not the candidates but the party that matters and the people believe that the Trinamool Congress will work for the people. That's why all our candidates are emerging victorious," a senior Trianmool leader said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/final-tally-of-suvendu-adhikari-mukul-roy-rajiv-ghosh-and-other-ex-tmc-leaders-who-fought-on-bjp-ticket/articleshow/82354609.cms">These 13 former TMC leaders got tickets from BJP – only four of them are leading</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bjp-is-now-leading-on-four-of-the-twenty-seats-it-contested-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/82354058.cms">BJP is now leading on four of the twenty seats it contested in Tamil Nadu</a>

TMC candidates Arup Biswas, actress June Maliah and Sayantika Banerjee leading against BJP candidates

West Bengal Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> on Thursday launched scathing attack against the <keyword id="14666" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bjp" source="Orion">BJP</keyword> over the <keyword id="13126" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="maharashtra" source="Orion">Maharashtra</keyword> political crisis and claimed that this is a deliberate ploy by the saffron camp to garner additional numbers in favour of its candidate for the forthcoming Presidential poll. "The Presidential poll is round the corner. The BJP has approximately 1,00,00 less votes. So, they have chosen this time to topple the Maharashtra government in an unethical manner and using money power," the Chief Minister said. Seeking justice for Uddhav Thackeray, <keyword id="6359280" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mamata" source="Orion">Mamata</keyword> Banerjee said that the BJP is bulldozing democracy and the federal structure in the country. "They are bulldozing the opposition everywhere especially when there are protests against their undemocratic gesture. In Tripura they are not allowing the people to vote freely. In West Bengal, they are hounding us by letting loose the central agencies, the CBI, the ED and National Human Rights Commission," the Chief Minister said. She concluded with a latent caution to the BJP that some day the latter might be paid back in the same coin. "You will be out of power some day or the other. Then what will you do? So do not try to topple the government using money power. Someday you might also face the same situation," Mamata said. Meanwhile, her nephew and the Trinamool Congress national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee mounted attack on <keyword id="6354915" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="assam" source="Orion">Assam</keyword> Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and said that at a time when Assam was reeling under severe flood, the Chief Minister was busy hosting rebel MLAs from Maharashtra. Incidentally, his comments came at a time when his wife was facing the questioning by the ED officials relating to the coal smuggling case in West Bengal. "As ASSAM DROWNS,@BJP4AssamGovt is busy following orders from Delhi to play HOST to REBEL MLAs. I wish CM@himantabiswa cared more about the flood-affected victims and less about toppling the Maharashtra Govt. PRIORITIES are clear for a REMOTE CONTROLLED SUBSERVIENT Govt," Abhishek Banerjee said in a Twitter message on Friday. Incidentally on Friday morning, Trinamool Congress workers in Assam also registered protest demonstrations in front of the hotel in Guwahati where the rebel Shiv Sena legislators from Maharashtra are putting up. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccines-prevented-over-42-lakh-deaths-in-india-says-lancet/articleshow/92424861.cms">COVID vaccines prevented over 42 lakh deaths in India, says Lancet</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-kept-the-rupee-exceptionally-stable-so-far-and-the-tide-could-turn-for-the-better-say-experts/articleshow/92414356.cms">RBI kept the rupee ‘exceptionally’ stable so far, and the tide could turn for the better say experts</a>

BJP trying to topple Maha govt for prez polls: Mamata Banerjee

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Mamata Banerjee's TMC Candidate List for West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> on Monday announced the reopening of educational institutions in the state from November 16, after a gap of nearly 20 months. Banerjee, who is on a North Bengal tour, during an administrative meeting at Uttarkanya -- the state secretariat in Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal -- directed <keyword id="12385503" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Secretary-H-K-Diwedi" source="Orion">Chief Secretary H K Diwedi</keyword> to make the necessary arrangements. With this, the educational institutions that were closed due to the Corona pandemic will resume classes in the offline mode. Though Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, had earlier announced November 15 as the date, it was deferred by a day owing to Bisha Munda's birthday. The tribal leader's birthday on November 15 is treated as a special holiday in the state. "On November 4, there is Kali Puja, followed by <keyword id="12385504" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bhatri-ditiya" source="Orion">Bhatri Ditiya</keyword>. After two days is Chhat puja while November 13 happens to be Jagadhatri Puja. So we can reopen the schools after these festivals from November 15," she said during the meeting. On October 5, the state finance department sanctioned Rs 109 crore to the education department for the renovation of 6,468 government schools, indicating the government's resolve to restart the schools after <keyword id="6357908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="durga-puja" source="Orion">Durga Puja</keyword>. Earlier too in August, after her meeting with the Global advisory body chief, she had said that her government was mulling <keyword id="3387016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reopening-of-schools" source="Orion">reopening of schools</keyword> and colleges that have been shut since March due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chief Minister had said that educational institutes might reopen in West Bengal on alternate days after the Durga Puja vacation in November. Asked about the details of the schedule, an education department official said, "Though it has not yet been decided and the department is still working on the details, but so far, it has been decided that classes from IX onwards will start at the initial level along with the colleges and universities. "However, the department is likely to impose strict conditions to ensure the safety of children from the deadly virus." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/soon-to-be-listed-nykaa-plans-to-expand-to-middle-east-and-the-uk/articleshow/87257541.cms">Soon-to-be listed Nykaa plans to expand to Middle East and the UK</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/jiophone-next-to-launch-this-diwali-specs-features-and-everything-we-know-so-far/articleshow/87256069.cms">JioPhone Next to launch this Diwali – specs, features and everything we know so far</a>

West Bengal Chief Minister announces reopening of schools from November 16 after 20 months

Though West Bengal Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mamata-Banerjee">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> is still trailing behind BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, the trends after the fourth round of counting show that the other <keyword id="43826" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trinamool-Congress">Trinamool Congress</keyword> heavyweights are leading in their respective Assembly constituencies. After the fourth round of counting, Banerjee is trailing behind her one-time aide Adhikari in Nandigram in East Midnapore district by a margin of 3,710 votes. As per the latest Election Commission data, Adhikari, who had jumped ship from the <keyword id="43867" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trinamool">Trinamool</keyword> to the BJP in December last year, has got 34,430 votes against Banerjee's 30,655. Banerjee, who had won the last two elections from the Bhowanipur Assembly constituency in <keyword id="6354925" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>, left her seat this time and decided to contest from Nandigram. Adhikari, who was an important minister in Banerjee's cabinet before defecting to the BJP, had won from Nandigram in the 2016 elections on a Trinamool ticket. Though Banerjee is trailing, the Trinamool Congress is showing signs of cruising to a big victory with most of its major candidates leading in their respective seats. PWD Minister Arup Biswas is leading from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency over his BJP rival <keyword id="6721" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="babul-Supriyo">Babul Supriyo</keyword> by a margin of nearly 8,000 votes. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is also leading from the Behala West Constituency by a margin of nearly 5,000 votes. Similarly, Javed Ahmed Khan has taken a lead of more than 47,000 votes over his Left Front rival Shatarup Ghosh. Apart from that, Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee is leading from the Ballygunge constituency, IT Minister Bratya Basu is leading from Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas, Urban Development Minister and former Mayor Firhad Hakim is leading from Kolkata Port constituency, Food Minister Jyotipriaya Mullick is leading from Habra, while Minister of State for Women and Child Health Shashi Panja in leading from the Jorasanko constituency in North Kolkata. Alternatively, Tourism Minister Goutam Deb is trailing from the Dabgram-Phulbari constituency in Jalpaiguri district, while Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak is trailing from the Asanasol South constituency in East Burdwan district. Minister of State for Fire Sujit Basu is also trailing from the Bidhananagar constituency. BJP's Nisith Pramanik is leading against Trinamool heavyweight Udyayan Guha from the Dinhata Assembly constituency in Cooch Behar district. Heavyweight BJP candidates like Swapan Dasgupta, Locket Chatterjee, Biashali Dalmia, Rahul Sinha, Babul Supriyo and Samik Bhattacharya are all trailing in their respective constituencies. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/check-out-leading-candidates-list-in-west-bengal-election-results-2021/articleshow/82353323.cms">West Bengal election results 2021: Trinamool Congress takes a comfortable lead against BJP as per EC trends</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bjp-candidate-annamalai-from-result-in-tamilnadu-state-election-2021/articleshow/82353177.cms">Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2021: BJP candidate Annamalai hopes to reap the fruits of his hard work at Aravakurichi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/assam-assembly-election-result-2021-nda-vs-upa-vote-share-and-final-seat-tally/articleshow/82350921.cms">Assam Assembly election 2021: UPA seems to double its seat tally but that's not good enough to BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma</a>

Mamata Banerjee continues to trail in Nandigram while other Trinamool heavyweights are leading

The stage is set for the second phase of assembly poll in <keyword id="6357783" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal">West Bengal</keyword> on Thursday when more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 191 candidates in 30 seats as eyes are set on the high profile Nandigram constituency where Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mamata-Banerjee">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> is pitted against her protag turned adversary Suvendu Adhikari. All 10,620 booths where polling will be held this phase have been declared as sensitive by the <keyword id="40807" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission">Election Commission</keyword>, which has deployed around 651 companies of central forces to provide security, officials said. Besides, the state police will also be deployed at strategic locations during the polling which will begin at 7 am, they said. A total 199 companies of Central Armed Police Force will be deployed in Purba Medinipur, 210 companies in Paschim Medinipur, 170 in South 24 Parganas and 72 in Bankura, the sources said. TMC and BJP are contesting in all the 30 seats, while CPI(M) is in the fray in 15 and its alliance partners of Sanjukta Morcha the Congress and ISF are competing in 13 and two seats respectively. Polling will take place amid strict COVID-19 guidelines in nine seats of Paschim Medinipur, eight in Bankura, four seats in South 24 Parganas and nine in Purba Medinipur - the home ground of TMC turncoat and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Nandigram falls in Purba Medinipur district. The agrarian constituency which shook the foundations of the mighty Left regime over the anti-land acquisition movement in 2007, has now turned into a battleground of titans with Banerjee suddenly deciding to switch from her Bhowanipur seat to the constituency held by Adhikari, her former lieutenant who has switched loyalty to the BJP. For Adhikari it is a battle for political survival as a defeat would be a devastating blow and might also put a question mark on his political graph in his new party the BJP. Similarly, a victory would not only establish him as one of the tallest leaders in Bengal but would also push him few miles ahead of others in the Chief Ministerial race in case the BJP is voted to power. For Banerjee, who is running for the third successive term as chief minister, a victory is a must to lead the government and keep together her party, which is faced with exodus. For the Congress-Left-ISF alliance candidate Minakshi Mukherjee of CPI-M, the challenge is to regain her party's lost ground. While Banerjee had been camping in Nandigram for the last four days, BJP fielded its 'big guns', including Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and superstar <keyword id="14672" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mithun-Chakraborty">Mithun Chakraborty</keyword> to defend Adhikari's turf, which he had won in 2016 and take on 'Didi' (as Mamata is popularly called). Apart from identity politics and Bengali sub- nationalism, the demand for jobs, inclusion of Hindu backward communities in the OBC category and setting up of agro-based industry have emerged as main poll planks in the second phase of polls. l Of the 30 seats which will see voting on Thursday, 23 were won by TMC in the 2016 assembly elections, five by Left Front and Congress and BJP one each. The political equation in the state had changed in 2019 when BJP made massive inroads in the tribal-dominated Janga Mahal region and Medinipur belt by sweeping all the five Lok Sabha seats. The TMC, however, has been able to maintain its dominance in South 24 Parganas district, where there is sizeable minority population. A prominent seat going to the poll in the second phase is Sabang, where TMC has fielded its Rajya Sabha MP Manas Bhunia. He is up against TMC turncoat and BJP leader Amulya Maity. Bhunia, a former state Congress president, had held the seat from 1982 to 016 as Congress nominee before switching over to the TMC in September 2016. TMC has fielded actor <keyword id="1076648" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sayantika-Banerjee">Sayantika Banerjee</keyword>, a popular face in the Bengali silver screen, from Bankura seat against BJP's Niladri Sekhar Dana. The Sanjukta Morcha has fielded Congress candidate Radharani Banerjee. In Debra seat, two former IPS officers will cross swords. One is BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh who is contesting against TMC's <keyword id="184573" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Humayun-Kabir">Humayun Kabir</keyword>. Both had resigned from their senior police posts to join active politics. Banerjee, who is in a wheelchair since her accident early this moth, crisscrossed the majority of the constituencies going to the polls in the second phase. TMC MP <keyword id="255730" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abhishek-Banerjee">Abhishek Banerjee</keyword> toured the rest asserting that TMC will not let Bengal to be ruled from Delhi or Gujarat in an apparent reference to the battery of central BJP leaders and ministers camping in the state. Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda had led BJP's campaign from the front addressing rallies at Kanthi, Bankura and Nandigram and urging the electorate to vote for BJP to usher in 'ashol poriborton' (actual change) to build 'Sonar Bangla' (prosperous Bengal). 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You Searched For "mamata banerjee candidate list" and got 9 results

West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

PTI

The complete list of Chief Ministers in India for 2024

BI India Bureau

Mamata Banerjee releases TMC's candidate list for Bengal elections

IANS

TMC candidates Arup Biswas, actress June Maliah and Sayantika Banerjee leading against BJP candidates

IANS

BJP trying to topple Maha govt for prez polls: Mamata Banerjee

PTI

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Mamata Banerjee's TMC Candidate List for West Bengal

BI India Bureau

West Bengal Chief Minister announces reopening of schools from November 16 after 20 months

IANS

Mamata Banerjee continues to trail in Nandigram while other Trinamool heavyweights are leading

IANS

Bengal set for second phase polling in 30 seats, all eyes on Nandigram

PTI

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