Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced Rathindra Bose, a first-time Member of the Legislative Assembly and a loyalist of the Sangh Parivar, as the Bharatiya Janata Party's nominee for the Speaker of the 18th Bengal Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister appealed to all political parties to extend their support to Bose's candidacy.
Background of Rathindra Bose
Bose, who won the election from the Cooch Behar South constituency, is a chartered accountant by profession. He has risen through the ranks of the Sangh Parivar over several decades and has been a pivotal figure in managing the party's interests in North Bengal, a region that remains a stronghold for the BJP. His loyalty was famously tested during the Rajya Sabha elections for Ananta Maharaj, where Bose acted as a dummy candidate at the behest of the party leadership.
Support from Senior Leaders
The proposal for his candidacy received vocal support from senior BJP leaders, including Dilip Ghosh, Shankar Ghosh, and Agnimitra Paul. Taking to social media platform X, the Chief Minister posted: "Rathin is a long-time party member who possesses both political experience and higher education."
Adhikari's Remarks on Previous Regime
Standing beside Bose after filing the nomination, Adhikari took a dig at the previous administration's management of the House, stating: "In the days ahead, the assembly will get a good Speaker — one who will not keep the Leader of the Opposition out of the House for 11.5 months." In the last assembly, Adhikari, who was then the Leader of the Opposition, was suspended five times for a cumulative period of 11.5 months.
Election Process
Unless an opposition party fields a candidate for the post, Bose will be unanimously elected. The formal election for the Speaker's post is scheduled for Friday.
