Author: AITC

In a press conference earlier today All India General Secretary of Trinamool Congress announced two new candidates for Lok Sabha polls, while making some minor changes in the previously declared lists.

Candidate for Ranaghat Dr Saugata Barman opted out of Lok Sabha polls after meeting with an accident. His health will not permit him to contest the elections as he is immobile. The new candidate for Ranaghat Lok Sabha Constituency would be Dr Tapas Mondal, an associate professor and reader of Bidhan Chandra Krishi University. Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee will fight from New Delhi constituency instead of South Delhi constituency.

As promised earlier, Trinamool declared candidates for seats in other states. Nakul Das Rai will fight on the party ticket in Sikkim. He is a sitting MLA in the Sikkim Assembly. The Trinamool Candidate for Andaman & Nicobar Islands Constituency is Anita Bhakta (Mandal).

The struggle of Nadigram has created history. March 14 will go down in the pages of history for both ugly and inspiring reasons. Ugly because the blood-bath at Nandigram has been a gory face of state repression and the disturbing sign of the discontent, distress and threat to democracy created by the neo-liberal and land grab policy of the state. We can never forget the killing of innocent men, women and children who were protesting against the land grab in Nandigram on March 14, 2007.

Inspiring because of the grit, determination and fighting spirit of the common people of Nandigram who became martyrs to protect Nandigram from destruction and displacement. Despite all the fear created, despite the missing persons list increasing in the area, despite facing bullets again and again, people of Nadigram put up a great fight to save their culture, livelihood and environment.

Farmers, dalits, adivasis and women across India have been putting a brave front to oppose such development paradigm which is only leading to displacement, destruction, degradation and threatening vast rural, agricultural and forest communities. Many have given their lives for this cause not only in West Bengal but in other parts of India.

Trinamool Family salutes all those martyrs who have led down their lives for the sake of their land. We bow to the Ma, Mati, Manush.

Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee on March 13 said that Trinamool Congress would emerge as the third largest party and play a big role in national politics after the Lok Sabha polls. “There are two big parties Congress and BJP in our country for a long time. Trinamool Congress will emerge as the third largest party,” she told media at the airport after her return from New Delhi.

The party would surge from the state, she said. “Trinamool Congress will have a vital role in national politics with the blessings of Ma, Mati, Manush,” she commented. She said the party is fighting in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal against CPI(M), Congress and BJP.”We believe that there will be a people`s alliance and not an unholy alliance.”

She said the party would also contest in Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar and in some seats in Odisha, apart from Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

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মমতা এখন লোকসভা ভোটে রাজ্যের ৪২টি আসনকেই পাখির চোখ করতে চাইছেন। কারণ তিনি জানেন, দেশের তৃতীয় বৃহত্তম দল হিসেবে উঠে আসতে গেলে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ থেকেই তাঁকে সব থেকে বেশি আসন জিততে হবে। দিল্লি থেকে ফিরে কলকাতা বিমানবন্দরে তিনি বলেছেন, “ভারতে এখন দুটো বড় রাজনৈতিক দল রয়েছে। দীর্ঘদিন ধরে তারা লড়ছে। এ বার তৃণমূল দেশের তৃতীয় বড় দল হিসেবে উঠে আসবে।” সেই লক্ষ্য পূরণের জন্য মমতা এখন জেলায় জেলায় সফর করবেন।

পাশাপাশি প্রভাব বিস্তারের চেষ্টা করবেন ত্রিপুরা, ঝাড়খণ্ড, সিকিমের মতো প্রতিবেশী রাজ্যে। শুধু লোকসভা নির্বাচন নয়, ভবিষ্যতে ওই রাজ্যগুলির বিধানসভা নির্বাচনের দিকেও মমতার বিশেষ নজর রয়েছে।

Trinamool Congress kept up the energy levels during campaigns for Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday March 12. Local leaders were out in full force campaigning hard for their respective candidates. Arpita Ghosh, who is the candidate in Balurghat held a workers` workshop. Soumitra Roy connected to the voters through his unique mass-communication techniques at Harishchandrapur.

Trinamool has set a precedent by seeking permission from house-owners before going for a wall-graffiti campaign. In South Kolkata, Sovandeb Chatterjee, the Chief Whip of West Bengal Government, could be seen painting on walls in support of Subrata Bakshi. Indranil Sen and Humayun Kabir led a successful campaign in Baharampur. Sultan Ahmed continued his outreach programme with voters in Uluberia.

Afreen Ali was present in Chandrakona for her campaign. Minister of State for Small and Medium Enterprises, Swapan Debnath campaigned in favour of his local candidate in Bardhaman. In Birbhum, Anubrata Mondal was seen campaigning for Satabdi Roy. The party is using all forms of communication for mass outreach to ensure Ma, Mati, Manush of Bengal lend their support to Trinamool.

Afreen Ali in Chandrakona

Innovative campaign in Bardhaman

Wall graffiti in Jadavpur

Graffiti in favour of Moonmoon Sen in Bankura

Humayun Kabir and Indranil Sen

Satabdi Roy and Anubrata Mondal in Birbhum

Soumitra Roy in Harishchandrapur

Sultan Ahmed in Uluberia

Swapan Debnath in Bardhaman

Home Department of the West Bengal Government has sought permission from the Election Commission of India to restructure the rehabilitation packages given to Maoists who surrender to the State. The Government wishes to incorporate allowances for healthcare, house rent, and cost of education among various things in these packages. A detailed report has been sent to the Election Commission so that these schemes can be launched at the earliest.

The State Government has proposed an amount of around Rs 2500 as house rent allowance. An amount of Rs 500 per head per month has been proposed as medical allowances for every surrendered Maoist and their family members.

The State Government has also proposed Rs 500 per month as educational allowance to the family of the surrendered Maoists. The same may be increased to around Rs 1500 per month after the student completes the Higher Secondary level and goes for higher education.

The Government believes that these rehabilitation packages will lead to an increased number of Maoists surrendering arms and returning to the mainstream to lead a normal life.

Trinamool Congress declared the names of about 30 candidates in the second list for Lok Sabha elections 2014. The states for which the seats were declared include Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The candidate list included names of former bureaucrats, academicians, actors, former ministers, sitting MP, veteran politicians and people from various fields; the list was a true reflection of the society. 

Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee will be contesting from the South Delhi constituency while granddaughter of former UP CM and Railway Minister Kamalapati Tripathi, Indira Tiwari will be fighting from Varanasi. Celebrated Assamese actor Biju Phukan will be fighting from Gauhati seat in Assam while former Governor of Meghalaya Ranjit Mooshahary will be fighting from Kokrajhar.

Today the party has declared 10 candidates from Kerala, 4 in Assam, 3 in Uttar Pradesh, 2 each in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. 1 seat has been declared in each of the other states.

Trinamool Chairperson, during the press conference, said that Trinamool will be fighting alone in the polls and she will campaign across the country. She had earlier slammed the Central Government at a rally in Ramlila Maidan and called for Poriborton at the Centre. She made it clear that BJP was not the alternative to Congress.

Earlier on March 5, Trinamool Chairperson had announced candidates for 42 seats in Bengal and 2 seats each in Manipur, Tripura and Jharkhand. More names will be announced in the upcoming days.

You can check the second list of candidates here.

Click here to check the first list of candidates.

March 11 saw a flurry of activities by Trinamool candidates in their respective Lok Sabha constituencies. Ex-National Football Team Captain Padma Shri Baichung Bhutia and Jalpaiguri candidate Bijoy Chandra Barman attended a workers` meet in Siliguri. Trinamool State President Subrata Bakshi and North Bengal Development Minister Goutam Deb were also present.

At Harishchandrapur in Malda, Trinamool candidate for Maldaha Uttar Lok Sabha Constituency, Soumitra Roy did a musical campaign by leading a procession while playing drums and other musical instruments. In Baharampur, the AITC candidate Indranil Sen held meetings with his campaign team.

In South Bengal, AITC candidate for Diamond Harbour and AITY National President Abhishek Banerjee held a rally at Sahrisha. At Basirhat constituency, the AITC candidate and Trinamool Minority Cell Chairman Idrish Ali met numerous people while campaigning on the streets.

 In North 24 Parganas, the candidate for Bangaon constituency, Kapil Krishna Thakur was present at a rally that was also attended by Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mullick and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Manjul Krishna Thakur. At Barasat, sitting MP and AITC candidate for the constituency, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar campaigned in her constituency.

Meanwhile, Prasun Banerjee campaigned in Howrah, while rallies in support of Deepak Adhikary (Dev) were held at Degachia in Keshpur, for the Ghatal constituency. In Bardhaman, the unorganized labour organisations brought out a rally in support of AITC candidates.

Workshop for party workers in Siliguri

Indranil Sen at Baharampur

Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar at Barasat

Idrish Ali talking to voters in Basirhat

Rally in support of Trinamool in Bardhaman

Leaders at Trinamool rally in Bangaon

Trinamool Congress Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee Tuesday put up a strong defence against criticism that she stressed on glamour and star power while deciding the party`s list of Lok Sabha candidates, saying she wanted them to have a say in national politics.

Didi said that they had been nominated because she wanted them “to have a say in national politics”. “The new faces have been inducted to give a truly representative look to the list of candidates”.

She was talking to reporters at the NSCB Airport before leaving for Delhi where she would address a joint rally with anti-graft activist Anna Hazare at Ram Lila Ground to kickstart the campaign for Trinamool candidates.

Putting her full faith on new candidates she said, “The youths should be given opportunity in politics. No one becomes politician overnight.”

“I want more and more young people to come into politics. If the younger generation is not encouraged, then who will manage the affairs (in the country) in the future?” she asked.

Pointing out that Trinamool`s candidate list was an exercise to give representation to people from all walks of life` Ms. Banerjee said that the film and cultural personalities could pursue their respective professions while at the same time serving people as “future representatives” in Parliament.

Didi emphasised a difference between her party`s list and those of others, explaining that while “other parties do not field them (the celebrities) in seats where they have winning possibilities; we put them in winnable seats and get them elected”.

She said that this “fight is also against injustices done against West Bengal”. She was referring to the Centre`s non-acceptance of the state`s demand for restructuring the loans left behind by the previous Left Front government.