West Bengal elections: Shocker for 28 TMC MLAs, ministers as party denies them ticket

Over 28 sitting MLAs, including five ministers, faced the axe in Trinamool Congress’ full list of 291 candidates who would be contesting the West Bengal Assembly Elections starting on March 27.

It came as a shocker for the MLAs that were denied nominations by the party. Several TMC leaders voiced anguish against Mamata Banerjee’s decision and held protests at a few places too.

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"May God give Mamata-didi good sense and counsel, I have been with her from the beginning," said Guha, the former deputy speaker of the state assembly.

Four-time Satgachia MLA Sonali Guha, once a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, burst into tears after learning that she was denied a ticket this time.

Banerjee, validating her decision had said that she was dropping these leaders because of their age.

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Former TMC MLA Arabul Islam, a strongman from Bhangar in the South 24 Parganas district, broke down in tears as he said that those who have loved the party with their heart have been ignored.

"I will do whatever the local people want me to do," he said about his future plans, as some of his supporters burnt tyres and put up roadblocks in the area in protest.

Supporters of Rafiqur Rahaman, the sitting TMC MLA of Amdanga in North 24 Parganas, blocked the highway in the area after his name did not appear on the list.

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A section of the Trinamool Congress's Siliguri leadership also took exception to Omprakash Mishra, a Kolkata resident, being made a candidate from the north Bengal town.

TMC leader Nantu Pal said that the people would not support "an outsider".

(With agency inputs)