In its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections announced on Saturday, the BJP has fielded the Opposition Chief Whip in the State Assembly, Manoj Tigga, for Alipurduar Lok Sabha Constituency, reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. Notably, John Barla was elected on the BJP ticket in 2019 from this seat and became Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs.
The BJP has finally nominated Mr Tigga, who was elected as MLA from Madarihat twice. The party also appointed him as district president last year. The BJP has re-nominated Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Cooch Behar. Though the party leadership re-nominated Khagen Murmu, MP from Malda North, the fate of three party MPs from North Bengal remains uncertain.
In its first list the party did not announce the name of its candidates for Darjeeling, Raiganj and Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha seats. The party has fielded sitting MP Dr Sukanta Majumdar for Balurghat Lok Sabha seat, who is state party president. The BJP has re-nominated Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury, who was defeated by the Congress by a narrow margin in 2019 for Malda South Lok Sabha seat. According to sources, a section of party leaders and aspirants in Malda are not happy with the party’s decision to field Srirupa, who is an MLA from English Bazaar.
On the other hand, a section of the BJP leaders and supporters are eagerly waiting for the second list to find about about the candidates for the three remaining Lok Sabha seats, especially Darjeeling. Significantly, another section of the party supporters is expecting that the party would nominate new candidate, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former foreign secretary and chief coordinator of G20 Presidency, replacing the standing MP Raju Bista. Mr Shringla organised sever programmes under the banner of Darjeeling Welfare Society to reach out to the people in seven segments of Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat over the past few months.
Interestingly, BJP MLA from Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba, who is also close to Mr Bista, addressing the Press today said that he has written a letter by his blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding Gorkhaland. Party workers have started wall graffiti campaigns in their respective areas, where the party has announced its candidates. Meanwhile, the administration has deployed Central forces, who have started route marches in Noth Bengal districts.