Actresses in BJP for election: In the 'star wars' of Bengal assembly elections 2021, parties are dazzling up their candidate lists with prominent names from the film and entertainment industry. The high-stakes political battle that will see primary oppositions Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) engage for the state turf has been ramped up with the induction of popular actors from the Bengal film industry who boast of large fan followings.
On Thursday, the BJP released its candidate lists for the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth phases of the election, featuring names that add to the tally of female actors in the saffron party. As famous personalities like Anjana Basu and Parno Mittra contest, experts debate: Will they bring their fanfare to the polls when they begin later this month?
Here's a look at actresses in BJP contesting elections in Bengal this year:
1. Anjana Basu
BJP is fielding Anjana Basu from Sonarpur South, South 24 Parganas district. She is two years old in politics and will face off with colleague and actor Lovely Moitra from Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the seat. See the list of actors in TMC here.
She is best known in the entertainment industry for the DD National show Krishnakali. Other films and television series that star her include Bye Bye Bangkok, Byomkesh Phire Elo, Bodhuboron and Debdas.
2. Tanusree Chakraborty
Tanusree Chakraborty is a popular model and actor known for films Uro Chithi, Khaad, and Chorabali. She will contest the election for the Shyampur constituency seat in Howrah. Her opponent is Kalipada Mandal, a TMC senior.
On her belief in party ideals, she had been quoted saying, “I am joining BJP as I do believe in its ideology... I think that there will not be any groupism with actors joining and work will be work for all."
3. Locket Chatterjee
Locket Chatterjee is an actor holding prominent positions in the BJP. She was formerly the Bengal president for BJP Mahila Morcha (women's wing) and is now the general secretary of BJP Bengal. She is running from Chinsurah in Hooghly district.
Her best works include Sannyasi Deshonayok, Kiriti Roy, Obhishopto Nighty, and Oh Henry!
She has been with the BJP since 2015, prior to which she was associated with the opposition TMC. She also currently serves as a Member of Committee on Empowerment of Women.
4. Rajshree Rajbanshi
Rajshree Rajbanshi is a recent inductee to the BJP. She joined the party earlier this month alongside actor Bonny Sengupta in Kolkata. The ceremony took place in the presence of party seniors, including Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh and party leader Rajib Banerjee.
She will contest from the Madhyamgram constituency against Rathin Ghosh from TMC.
The new additions of actresses in BJP came amidst the induction of sitting MLAs from TMC, who were snubbed on the opposition's candidate list.
5. Parno Mittra
Parno Mittra is an actor famous for her appearances on Bengali television and national award-winning films. She has been with the BJP since 2019, when she joined the party alongside ten other industry names like Kanchana Moitra and Moumita Gupta.
In the 2021 assembly election, Mittra is contesting for the Baranagar seat. She will face off against TMC's Tapas Roy.
Among her most famous works are films Apur Panchali, Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona, and show Khela.
6. Srabanti Chatterjee
Srabanti Chatterjee is a noted Bengali actor who joined the saffron party on March 1 this year, in the presence of BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, IT head Amit Malviya and others. She is contesting the assembly election from the Behala Paschim constituency.
"I have joined BJP as I think the party is working for the development and change in the state," she was quoted saying.
She has been in the film industry since she was a child, making her debut in the 1997 film Mayar Badhon. She is set to make her OTT debut with the web series Dujone.
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