TMC Releases List Of Candidates: Mamata Snubs Cong; Announces Names For 42 Seats

The TMC on Sunday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Sunday.

In a major snub to the Congress, the TMC announced the names for the 42 Lok Sabha seats. The TMC's candidate list features prominent figures such as former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan, who is contesting from Bahrampore, a seat long held by Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra has been given ticket again from the Krishnanagar constituency. In a notable move, the party has replaced Basirhat MP Nusrat Jahan with influential leader Haji Nurul Islam amidst controversy in the Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal.

TMC faced severe criticism following accusations of land grabbing and sexual assault against its leader Shajahan Sheikh by locals in Sandeshkhali. Shajahan Sheikh is currently in custody, with multiple cases under investigation by federal agencies including the CBI.

The party kicked off the poll campaign at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground on Sunday.

"All India Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee will announce the party's candidates for the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal," the TMC said in a statement. It has to be noted that it is the first time the party will announce its candidate list from a mega public meeting.

As per the reports, the grand event called as 'Jana Garjan Sabha' will showcase three platforms, including a cross ramp, with Mamata Banerjee and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the forefront as the main speakers.

"We are organising a rally at Brigade Parade Grounds after a long time. It is going to be a historic event. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee will give a message which we will take to every nook and corner of West Bengal and ensure the defeat of the BJP in all the 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state," PTI quoted TMC leader Firhad Hakim as saying.

Breaking away from traditional rally arrangements, the Trinamool Congress has chosen ramps to foster direct interaction between leaders and supporters during speeches. The interconnected main stages through ramps aim to boost engagement and link with the grassroots.

Meanwhile, the BJP has criticized the TMC's event, labeling it as the party's "farewell rally." Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari denounced TMC's leaders as "goons and corrupt," foreseeing their "inevitable decline."

In the last Lok Sabha polls, the TMC, despite its well-entrenched grassroots organisation, could only win 22 seats out of the 42 seats. Whereas the BJP managed to win 18 while the Congress won 2 seats.