Bengal Election: Mamata Banerjee Files Nomination From Nandigram

Bengal Election Nandigram: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee filed her nomination from the Nandigram constituency for Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The 66-year-old, in a diversion from her traditional Bhowanipore seat, will face-off for the Nandigram seat against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Suvendhu Adhikari.

Filing her nomination at the Haldia office after a roadshow in the town, Banerjee addressed a crowd saying, "I seek blessings from everyone for TMC’s win. I am praying for all the candidates to win the seats."

TMC's candidate list, released last week, features a diverse mix of celebrities, women, Muslims, SCs and STs. Names and constituencies of the 50 female candidates here.

Bengal Election Nandigram Showdown

Adhikari, a TMC turncoat, has his home turf in Nandigram where he has reigned since 2016. After quitting TMC to join BJP last December, Adhikari had thrown an open challenge to Banerjee to contest against him - the 'bhoomiputra' of Nandigram - in the 2021 election. He will file his nomination on March 12.

Responding to the 'outsider' label the opposition is attacking her with, Banerjee said at a rally in Nandigram on Tuesday, "I heard some people are calling me an outsider in Nandigram. I am amazed. I was born and brought up in the neighbouring Birbhum district, and the person who is calling me an outsider was also not born here."

The 2021 Bengal assembly election will be conducted in eight phases beginning March 27 till April 29. Poll results will be declared May 2.