BJP Files Rajya Sabha Nominations in West Bengal

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik on Monday officially filed their nomination papers as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal.

The three leaders arrived at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly around 11:30 AM to complete the nomination process. They were joined by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya.

Before submitting their nomination papers, the leaders paid floral tributes at the portrait of Bhanubhakta Acharya inside the Assembly. Accompanied by the Chief Minister and the state BJP president, the three candidates then filed their nominations while wearing saffron scarves, symbolising their affiliation with the BJP.

Rajya Sabha Election on July 24

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats on July 24. However, given the current strength of political parties in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the opposition TMC lacks the numbers to field candidates for these vacancies.

Political observers believe that all three BJP nominees are likely to be elected unopposed, paving the way for their return to the Rajya Sabha.

From TMC to BJP

The development comes just days after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from both the TMC and their Rajya Sabha memberships on July 9. The trio formally joined the BJP at the party's state headquarters in Salt Lake in the presence of Samik Bhattacharya.
Their resignations created the vacancies that are now being filled through the by-election.

Political Significance

The nominations mark a significant political shift in West Bengal. The same leaders who were elected to the Rajya Sabha as TMC representatives are now poised to return to the Upper House under the BJP banner. While the representatives remain unchanged, their political allegiance has undergone a dramatic transformation, reflecting the evolving political landscape in the state.