A Mother, A Murder & A Bypoll : BJP’s High-Stakes Nandigram Gamble

Kolkata : A murder that shook the political landscape, a mother stepping into the electoral battlefield, and a constituency already loaded with political history Nandigram is once again at the centre of a high-voltage showdown. In a move that could add a deeply emotional dimension to the upcoming Assembly by-election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Hashirani Rath, the mother of former BJP leader Shuvendu Adhikari’s personal aide Chandranath Rath, from the crucial Nandigram seat.

Chandranath was allegedly shot dead on the night of May 6, and now his mother is entering the political arena as the BJP’s candidate, turning the bypoll into a contest that is likely to carry both political and emotional weight. Hashirani is scheduled to file her nomination on Tuesday, and Shuvendu Adhikari is expected to be present beside her during the nomination process. The Nandigram seat is considered a key stronghold of Shuvendu Adhikari, who has built significant political influence in the region.

The seat became vacant after the Chief Minister gave it up following her victory from Bhabanipur, where she had defeated TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. With the by-election now underway, the BJP’s decision to put forward the mother of a slain aide has added a fresh and highly sensitive dimension to the political battle.

The contest is also shaping up to be a multi-cornered fight, with Mamata Banerjee’s TMC fielding Sanchita Pradhan Dey, while the rebel faction has backed Mohammad Eteshamul Haque. The Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan, while the CPI has fielded Shanti Gopal Giri. As multiple political forces prepare to fight for the crucial constituency, all eyes are now on whether the BJP’s emotionally charged candidate selection can translate into electoral advantage.

With Shuvendu Adhikari directly backing the campaign and the memory of Chandranath Rath’s death looming over the contest, Nandigram is set for a fierce political battle where every vote could carry a powerful message.

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