Four TMC, one BJP candidate file nominations for Rajya Sabha elections in West Bengal

Both Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from West Bengal filed their nominations for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (March 5). Four candidates have been nominated from the ruling TMC party, and one from the opposition BJP.

With senior leaders in attendance, the TMC’s candidates, former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, State Minister Babul Supriyo, Supreme Court lawyer Menaka Guruswamy, and actor Koel Mallick filed their nominations at the State Legislative Assembly.

Meanwhile, former BJP State President Rahul Sinha is their sole candidate. State President Samik Bhattacharya and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were in attendance as he filed his nomination.

With the numbers in its favour at the 294-member assembly, TMC is expected to secure all four seats, and BJP is set to secure one. 

“As Mother Teresa had said – I trust God will not give me any responsibility that I cannot handle, I just wish he did not trust so much,” Mr. Kumar said while filing his nomination. He further added that it is a great responsibility and honour. 

Ms. Mallick said she feels blessed for this opportunity to serve people. 

Election on March 16

The Election Commission has announced that elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 States will take place on March 16. The votes will be counted on the same day.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve in the upper house of Parliament, which is crucial in the context of law-making… Values of equality and non-discrimination, and the dignity of each citizen is what our Constitution speaks about. It will be my endeavour to uphold those values in Parliament every single day,” Ms. Guruswamy said after filing her nomination. 

The most important inclusion in the list was Rajeev Kumar, who served as the Director General of Police, West Bengal, until January 2026. Mr. Kumar is perceived to be close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

Ms. Guruswamy has represented the West Bengal government in various cases, including the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Hospital in August 2024. She has also notably fought the case for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in India. 

Supriyo a defector

Mr. Supriyo is a two-time BJP MP from the Asansol constituency, but he joined the TMC in 2021 and was elected to the State Assembly and Ms. Mallick is a prominent name in the Bengali television industry. 

Meanwhile, Mr Sinha is one of the oldest members of the West Bengal BJP, and this nomination is seen as a reward for his work in building a base for the party in the State in its early days when he was State President. 

Notably, Mr Sinha lost both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and also the 2016 State Assembly elections.

But he has never lost his composure. He was overjoyed at the upper house nomination and said, “The party has given me the opportunity to file a nomination for Rajya Sabha, and I will use this opportunity to speak about the issues facing West Bengal’s people.”