BJP will not fight for the Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal

The West Bengal outfit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to fight in the Rajya Sabha by-election that is to be conducted in October this year.

Announcing the decision in a tweet, Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly,  tweeted, “ BJP will not nominate any candidate for Rajya Sabha by-poll due in West Bengal. The outcome is predetermined. Our focus is to make sure the unelected CM is unelected once again.”

On the other hand, Trinamool Congress has named Sushmita Dev, who only recently joined the Mamata Banerjee-led party, after quitting her membership with Congress. TMC’s  Manas Bhunia vacated the seat, which necessitated the by-polls, after he was elected as the MLA to the State assembly, from Sabang in West Midnapore district.

As of now, TMC controls 11 of 16 Rajya Sabha seats from the state of West Bengal, while Congress has two and CPI(M) one. Last week, TMC leader Arpita Ghosh resigned from the Rajya Sabha on the instructions of the party’s top leaders, leaving the seat vacant.

It is not the first time the party has decided not to fight for the Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal. The party did not contest the August 9 election for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat, paving the way for TMC nominee Jawhar Sircar to be elected unopposed.

The leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari mentioned that the party is focusing on the by-elections to be held on September 30, where the current CM Mamata Banerjee hopes to get elected into the assembly. BJP seems to focus on this opportunity and create a barrier for the CM to get elected.

BJP for the Bhabanipur assembly seat has fielded advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, to take the battle against Mamta Banerjee, in the hopes to upset the TMC plan.