KOLKATA: A financial consultant, a yoga trainer, a school principal, a pickle seller, a stationary shop owner and a gold medallist classical musician are also in the poll fray at the Bhabanipur by-election this season which has 12 candidatures – six of them being independents and three representing smaller parties other than CM Mamata Banerjee and BJP and Left candidates.
Apart from the buzz surrounding Banerjee contesting the bypoll following her loss in Nandigram, what is making the contest more interesting is the battle of minnows. While some claim to be fighting just for fun, others claim to be fighting to bring in a change. Also, there are a couple of dummy candidates, as per party sources.
“I’m contesting the polls to gain some fame which will help me in continuing my social work,” said Ruma Nandan, who sells pickles and manages a self-help group.
Subrata Bose and Malay Guha Roy, in their 60s and 50s respectively, claimed they were fighting just for fun. In their social media profiles, both were found sharing schemes and programmes of TMC. “I had contested in Nandigram as well and garnered 77 votes. I had enjoyed the fun and popularity I received even at a place no one knows me,” said Bose, a financial consultant.
But at least one independent candidate and two other candidates representing smaller parties vow to pose a tough challenge. “I’m here to fight against corruption and post-poll violence,” said Chandrachur Goswami (32), a gold medallist in environmental studies and classical music. Swarnalata Sarkar, a yoga trainer representing three-year-old Bharatiya Nyay Adhikar Raksha Party and stationary shop owner Mangal Sarkar from Bahujan Maha Party are also in the race to “bring a change”.
Satadru Roy, principal of a private school in Kolkata, is also contesting the election.
Apart from the buzz surrounding Banerjee contesting the bypoll following her loss in Nandigram, what is making the contest more interesting is the battle of minnows. While some claim to be fighting just for fun, others claim to be fighting to bring in a change. Also, there are a couple of dummy candidates, as per party sources.
“I’m contesting the polls to gain some fame which will help me in continuing my social work,” said Ruma Nandan, who sells pickles and manages a self-help group.
Subrata Bose and Malay Guha Roy, in their 60s and 50s respectively, claimed they were fighting just for fun. In their social media profiles, both were found sharing schemes and programmes of TMC. “I had contested in Nandigram as well and garnered 77 votes. I had enjoyed the fun and popularity I received even at a place no one knows me,” said Bose, a financial consultant.
But at least one independent candidate and two other candidates representing smaller parties vow to pose a tough challenge. “I’m here to fight against corruption and post-poll violence,” said Chandrachur Goswami (32), a gold medallist in environmental studies and classical music. Swarnalata Sarkar, a yoga trainer representing three-year-old Bharatiya Nyay Adhikar Raksha Party and stationary shop owner Mangal Sarkar from Bahujan Maha Party are also in the race to “bring a change”.
Satadru Roy, principal of a private school in Kolkata, is also contesting the election.
