LF announce names of RS candidates from West Bengal

Kolkata, Mar 9 (UNI) The ruling Left Front in West Bengal today announced the names of three CPI(M) and one Forward Bloc candidates for the four vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha.

The Left Front Committee selected Mr Mainul Hasan, Mr Tapan Sen, Mr.Saman Pathak (all CPI-M) and Dr Barun Mukherjee as the nominees, in a meeting here.

They will be contending for the seats left vacant by Mr Nilotpal Basu, Mr Dipankar Mukherjee and Mr Biplab Dasgupta of the CPI(M) and Mr Manoj Bhattacharya of the RSP.

Mr Basu, Mr Mukherjee and Mr Bhattacharjee completed two terms in the Rajya Sabha, the fourth vacancy arose due to the death of Mr Dasgupta.

Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Bose told reporters that the Rashtriya Janata Dal, an 'associate' of the ruling coalition had fielded Mr Mohammad Sohrab and Mr Prem Chand as its candidates from Barabazar and Kharagpur Town constituencies respectively.

While the Front partners would contest 290 out of the total of 294 seats, the RJD and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates would contest from two seats each. The NCP is yet to announce its candidates.

The CPI(M) announced Mr Mahendra Chetri as its nominee from Kurseong constituency replacing Mr Suraj Pathak, who was selected earlier.

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