Congress Announces First Candidate List for West Bengal Assembly Elections
The Congress party on Sunday made a significant political move by unveiling its initial list of 284 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. This announcement clearly signals the party's decision to contest the polls independently, without forming any alliances in the state. The party has declared its intention to field candidates in all 294 assembly constituencies, ensuring that no seat remains uncontested by the Congress.
Prominent Candidates and Key Selections
Among the notable names featured in the candidate list, former state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been nominated from the Baharampur constituency. Additionally, former Trinamool Congress MP Mausam Noor, who recently joined the Congress, will contest from Malatipur. Other significant candidates include Madhap Rai for Darjeeling, Abdul Hannan for Sujapur, Susmita Biswas for Dum Dum, Gautam Bhattacharya for Diamond Harbour, Souvik Mukherjee for Asansol Dakshin, and Prasenjit Puitandi for Asansol Uttar.
Central Election Committee Meeting and Deliberations
The candidate list was finalized following detailed deliberations by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC), which convened a meeting on Saturday. The session was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, and senior leaders from West Bengal. Also present were CEC members Ambika Soni, Madhusudan Mistry, Salman Khurshid, T S Singhdeo, K J George, P L Punia, and Amee Yajnik, along with AICC in-charge for West Bengal, Ghulam Ahmed Mir.
Ghulam Ahmed Mir highlighted the overwhelming response from party workers, stating that the Congress received approximately 2,500 applications for the 294 assembly seats. He emphasized that contesting all seats has been a long-standing demand from the party's rank and file in West Bengal, reflecting their enthusiasm and commitment to the electoral process.
Election Schedule and Key Dates
The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to be conducted in two phases, with voting set for April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4, determining the outcome of this highly anticipated political contest. The Congress's decision to go solo and field candidates across all constituencies sets the stage for a competitive electoral battle in the state.
