Manas Bhuniya, Shanta Chhetri nominated by Mamata for RS polls

Putting an end to all speculations by political experts, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced the names of former Bengal Congress president Manas Bhunia and ex-GNLF leader Shanta Chhetri along with three other existing candidates of the party for Rajya Sabha seats from the state.

Before boarding the helicopter from Dumurjala in Howrah for Birbhum, where she will be holding an administrative review meeting for the district on Monday, the Chief Minister said: "Elections to six seats in Rajya Sabha are being held. We'll decide later whether to announce a sixth candidate. We have announced five candidates. Three of them are already Rajya Sabha members - Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Dola Sen. Now, we have named Shanta Chhetri from the Hills and Dr Manas Bhunia our party's candidates. We have made a very good team. I am very happy that there is now a representative from the Hills. People always exploit the Hills but don't give anything in return. I am happy that I have been able to give something back to them."

The nominations for the election will begin on May 22 and the election will be held on June 8 in the state Assembly.

The announcement of Chhetri's name as a candidate for Rajya Sabha election has come as another "big gift" to the people of the Hills from the Chief Minister. This is the first time when someone from the Hills has been named as a Rajya Sabha candidate.

Chhetri has fought for the hill population ever since her association with Subhas Ghising's Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and was a member of the state Assembly for three terms. She had joined the Trinamool Congress two years back and lost in the 2016 Assembly polls from the Kurseong Assembly seat. She also contested in the Kurseong civic polls but tasted defeat.

Chhetri said: "I am happy that the Chief Minister has nominated me and the people of the hills are also happy with the decision as they will also get someone from here to represent them in Rajya Sabha."

The Trinamool Congress scripted history by winning the Mirik Municipality in the recently held civic polls. Besides the Chief Minister's regular visits to the region and development initiatives, the decision to give someone from the Hills the opportunity to become a Rajya Sabha member will help the TMC to gain a stronger foothold.

While on the other hand, the veteran politician and a renowned physician, Bhunia has been nominated as another Rajya Sabha candidate. He had won as a Congress MLA from Sabang Assembly constituency in the last Assembly elections and joined the TMC on September 19, 2016. He has been a member of the state Assembly for seven terms.

Despite his 46-year association with the Congress, Bhunia joined the TMC following a misunderstanding with a section of senior Congress leaders over his chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Once Bhunia becomes a Rajya Sabha member, the Assembly seat of Sabang will fall vacant where a by-election will be held.

Bhunia said: "This is the highest honour that I have ever received in my political career. I am a worker of the party and I am grateful to the Chief Minister for giving me this opportunity."