West Bengal polls: BJP's first list out, Chandra Kumar Bose will be party's candidate against Mamata Banerjee

Chandra Kumar Bose will be BJP's candidate against CM Mamata Banerjee.

File Image

Delhi: Chandra Kumar Bose will be BJP's candidate against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming Assembly polls, the party announced on Wednesday evening.

He is the grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The announcement was made by BJP leader and Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani in the national capital.

"Chandra Kumar Bose ji is the grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and grandson of Sharat Chandra Bose and it is with permission of my national president Amit Shah, it is my privilege and my honor to announce that in the forthcoming assembly election of Bengal, Shri Chandra Kumar Bose will be the Bharatiya Janata Paty's candidate against Mamata Banerjee," Smriti Irani told media here, as per ANI.

On the other hand, Chandra Kumar said, "The time has come to bring about change in West Bengal which will be brought by BJP."

Bose had joined the BJP in January this year.

Later, after the meeting of BJP's central election committee, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and president Amit Shah, the party announced a list of 52 candidates, including five women.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh will contest from Kharagpur Sadar seat in Kharagpur.

Meanwhile, addressing a rally in Malda today, Mamata said that Congress and CPM always worked together and that had now come out in the open.

"Masks are now off," the TMC chief said, adding, "The alliance of CPM and Congress has no ideological backing. They have no common agenda."

"CPM and Congress accuse us of being BJP's ally. They have no other arsenal to attack us. They are actually helping BJP," the TMC leader said.

At the same trime, the West Bengal CM pointed out, "Congress, CPM and BJP have formed an unholy nexus. BJP campaigned for Hindu votes and Congress campaigned for Muslim votes. Ultimately people were the losers."

"Trinamool does not believe in politics of rioting. We have carried out unprecedented development for minorities," she maintained.

Elections for 294-seat Bengal Assembly is scheduled to be held from April 4 to May 5 in seven-phases.

Counting of votes will be held on May 19.

(With Agency inputs)