The Bharatiya Janata Party has selected Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal. Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former personal aide of BJP leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The BJP announced her candidature along with Sakharav Sarkar, who has been selected to contest the Rejinagar Assembly seat.
Hasirani Rath filed her nomination papers for the Nandigram by-election at the Sub-Divisional Officer's office in Haldia on September 15. She was accompanied by Suvendu Adhikari during the nomination process. The Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies are scheduled to go to the polls on October 6, with counting of votes scheduled for October 9.
Rath's candidature has attracted attention because of her connection to Chandranath Rath, who served as an aide to Adhikari. Chandranath Rath was shot on May 6 in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, shortly after the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced. He later died in hospital. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
According to reports, the CBI has arrested and charge-sheeted several accused persons in connection with the murder. The investigation is continuing into the circumstances surrounding Chandranath Rath's death. Claims about the motive behind the killing have been made by political figures and should be distinguished from findings established through the ongoing investigation.
Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that Chandranath Rath was targeted because of his association with him. Adhikari has also made allegations concerning the involvement of individuals associated with the Trinamool Congress. These are allegations made by the BJP leader and are part of the political discourse surrounding the case; they do not by themselves establish criminal responsibility. The investigation and judicial proceedings will determine the facts of the case.
Hasirani Rath has also spoken about the ongoing investigation and expressed confidence in the process. She said the family had received the chargesheet and that the case was moving forward. Her candidature has therefore brought together the political campaign and the continuing public attention surrounding her son's death.
Rath has said that the BJP has set a target of securing a victory margin of more than one lakh votes in Nandigram. Reports quoting her remarks said she expressed confidence in the party organisation and campaign preparations in the constituency. This figure is a campaign target expressed by the candidate and should not be treated as a prediction of the election result.
Adhikari has described Hasirani Rath as a long-time party worker and has spoken about the family's association with the BJP and his political activities. Her selection means the BJP has chosen a candidate with an established personal connection to the party leadership and a connection to a case that has received considerable attention in West Bengal.
The Nandigram by-election has been necessitated by the vacancy created after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the Assembly seat. He subsequently retained another constituency, resulting in the need for a fresh election in Nandigram. The BJP's decision to field Rath gives the party a candidate with a direct connection to the outgoing representative and his political organisation.
The BJP has also announced its candidate for the Rejinagar by-election. Sakharav Sarkar, a former Murshidabad district BJP president, will contest that seat. The two by-elections are part of the post-Assembly-election electoral activity in West Bengal and will be closely followed by the major political parties in the state.
The Nandigram contest will take place against the wider political backdrop of competition between the BJP and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. However, the outcome of the by-election will be determined by voters on October 6. Any claims about the eventual margin or winner remain campaign statements until the votes are counted.
For now, the main development is the BJP's nomination of Hasirani Rath for Nandigram. Her nomination combines a significant political contest with continuing attention on the investigation into the death of her son, Chandranath Rath. The CBI investigation and related legal proceedings remain separate from the electoral process.
The election schedule provides that polling will take place on October 6, while counting is scheduled for October 9. Until then, candidates and political parties will continue their campaigns and communicate their respective positions to voters in the constituency.