West Bengal CM names Manas Bhuniya, Shanta Chhetri for RS polls

Kolkata: Trinamul Congress supremo and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday, announced the names of five candidates from the state for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections with two new members figuring in the list. Former Congress president Manas Bhunia and ex-GNLF leader Shanta Chhetri are the new ones. Party’s sitting Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Dola Sen were renominated for the elections scheduled on June 8.

Mr Bhunia, a six-time Congress MLA from Sabang of West Midnapore district, had joined the TMC last September. The chief minister, who left for Birbhum to hold an administrative meeting on Monday, told reporters, “I have announced the names of five candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections.

There is an option for another candidate as elections are being held in six seats. I will decide later whether we will field another candidate or not.” She also added that the five-member team for the Rajya Sabha is a very good team. Justifying her stand for fielding former GNLF leader from Kurseong in the Hills Santa Chhetri, the Trinamul supremo said, “So long many have exploited the Hills, but did not pay them back.

Shanta Chhetri

I am happy that I am able to give something for the Hills which is always very dear to my heart.” Ms Chhetri had lost the elections as a TMC candidate for the Kurseong Assembly constituency to Gorkha Janamukti Morcha last year. Ms Chhetri expressed her gratitude towards the TMC supremo. “She has done so many things for the development of the Hills. This role has increased my responsibility,” she said.

An elated Manas Bhuniya, who is presently in Purulia, referred his selection as a recognition of a soldier by the topmost leader. “I will meet the chief minister, Abhisekh Banerjee, parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee and party president Subrata Bakshi on my return to Kolkata and will play my role with full dedication and work under the instruction of my top leadership. This is the greatest recognition of my long political career,” Mr Bhunia said.

MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy who has been renominated claimed that he will continue to be vocal in the Rajya Sabha in pressing the demand of the people of Bengal. The tenure of members from Bengal like Derek O’Brien (TMC), Debabrata Bandyopadhyay (TMC), Pradip Bhattacharya (Congress), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) and Dola Sen (TMC) will be ending on August 18.