Congress Reveals Candidates for Upcoming West Bengal Assembly Bypolls on November 13

The Congress has declared its candidates for six assembly seats in West Bengal, where bypolls are scheduled for November 13. This announcement comes amid a tense political atmosphere following protests by doctors over a serious incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The bypolls are seen as a crucial test for the major political parties in the state.

Junior doctors had initiated a cease work on August 9, protesting the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at the hospital. Their protest escalated to a fast-unto-death on October 5, lasting nearly two weeks. The hunger strike ended on Monday evening after discussions with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Political Parties Gear Up for Bypolls

The Congress has fielded Paresh Nath Sarkar for Naihati and Habib Reza Chowdhury for Haroa in North 24 Parganas. Bikash Champro Mary will contest from Madarihat in Alipurduar, Shyamal Kumar Ghosh from Medinipur in West Medinipur, Tusharkanti Sannigrahi from Taldangra in Bankura, and Harihar Roy Singha from Sitai in Cooch Behar district.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already announced their candidates for all six assembly segments. These bypolls are necessitated by the resignations of sitting MLAs who won in this year's Lok Sabha elections. The TMC had secured five of these seats in the 2021 assembly polls, except Madarihat, which was held by the BJP.

Left Front's Strategy

The CPIM-led Left Front, which previously allied with Congress since 2021, revealed its candidates for five seats on Monday. This includes one candidate from the CPIML. The Left Front is expected to back the Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidate in Haroa.

The upcoming bypolls will witness a four-cornered contest among TMC, BJP, Congress, and the Left Front. The elections will serve as a significant indicator of public sentiment following recent events and political shifts in West Bengal.

As political parties prepare for these crucial bypolls, the outcomes will likely influence future strategies and alliances within the state. The results will be closely watched as they may reflect broader political trends and voter preferences in West Bengal.