West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on January 18 announced that she will contest the upcoming assembly polls from the Nandigram constituency, apart from her Bhawanipore seat.
The announcement assumes significance as the Nandigram seat was represented by Trinamool Congress rebel Suvendu Adhikari, who crossed over to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) last year.
"I will contest from Nandigram assembly seat. If possible I will contest from both Bhawanipore and Nandigram," news agency ANI quoted Mamata Banerjee saying a public meeting in Nandigram.
While Mamata currently represents the Bhawanipore seat, Adhikari, won from Nandigram in East Midnapore district in 2016 as a Trinamool Congress candidate
Read | Why Suvendu Adhikari, who quit TMC and will likely join BJP, matters in West Bengal politics
“I am an MLA from Bhawanipore. But, I will contest from Nandigram seat too?” Banerjee said during a rally.
Mamata had campaigned for farmers' land in Nandigram which propelled her to power in the state in 2011 assembly polls. Her return to Nandigram is a direct challenge to Suvendu , who led an exodus of Trinamool leaders to the BJP .
Suvendu Adhikari had joined BJP during Amit Shah's Midnapore rally on December 19.
Also read | Mamata Banerjee sidelined other leaders to secure nephew’s future in politics: Suvendu Adhikari
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal member assembly is scheduled in April-May 2021.
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