BJP Fields Late Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide’s Mother in Nandigram Bypoll, Makes Major Political Statement

The BJP has announced its candidates for the upcoming by-elections to two West Bengal Assembly seats, choosing Hasirani Rath for Nandigram and Shakharav Sarkar for Rejinagar. The Nandigram nomination has attracted particular attention as Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the late personal aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Hasirani Rath is scheduled to file her nomination papers on Tuesday in a procession accompanied by BJP supporters. Suvendu Adhikari is also expected to be present, turning the nomination event into an opportunity for the BJP to demonstrate its organisational strength in the constituency.

Chandranath Rath was shot dead in May, shortly before Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister. He had been associated with active politics for several years and was known in the area for his political involvement.

Hasirani Rath herself has considerable grassroots political experience. She has been active in politics since 1998 and has served twice as a panchayat member and three times as a panchayat samiti member. Her selection now puts her at the centre of a high-profile electoral contest in Nandigram.

Why Nandigram matters

The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari resigned as its MLA. In the recent Assembly elections, Adhikari had won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur. Since a person cannot simultaneously represent two Assembly constituencies, he subsequently vacated the Nandigram seat.

The BJP's decision to nominate Hasirani Rath has added a strong personal and political dimension to the bypoll. The party is seeking to build on Adhikari's influence in the constituency while presenting the candidature of a locally rooted political figure.

The contest is already shaping up as a multi-cornered battle, with candidates from the Trinamool Congress, Left Front and Congress also in the fray. The BJP's latest announcement is therefore expected to intensify the political competition in Nandigram.

Polling for both constituencies is scheduled for October 6, while September 16 is the last date for filing nominations. The outcome will be closely watched as it could offer an indication of the political mood in these constituencies and the BJP's organisational strength in the region.