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 from the ruling TMC party and one from the opposition BJP were nominated.

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

Meanwhile, former BJP State President Rahul Sinha is their only candidate. Chief Minister Samik Bhattacharya and Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari were also present when he filed his candidacy.

With the numbers in its favor in the 294-member assembly, TMC is expected to get all four seats and BJP is expected to get one seat.

“I believe that as Mother Teresa said, God will never give me any responsibility that I cannot handle, I wish he had not been so trusting,” Mr. Kumar said while filing his candidacy. He added that this is a great responsibility and honor.

Ms Mallick said she felt fortunate for the opportunity to serve people.

Election on March 16

The Election Commission has announced that elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 States will be held on March 16. Votes will be counted on the same day.

After filing her nomination, Ms. Guruswamy said: “I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve in the upper house of Parliament, which is very important in the context of law-making… The values ​​of equality and non-discrimination and the dignity of every citizen are what our Constitution speaks of. It will be my endeavor to uphold these values ​​in Parliament every day.”

The top person on the list was Rajeev Kumar, who served as the Director General of Police of West Bengal until January 2026. Mr Kumar is considered to be close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

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

Supriyo, a refugee

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

Incidentally, 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 establishing a base for the party in the state in his early days as the State President.

It is noteworthy that Mr. Sinha lost both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and also the 2016 State Assembly elections.

But he never lost his cool. He was delighted with his candidacy for the upper house and said: “The party has given me the opportunity to nominate for the Rajya Sabha and I will use this opportunity to talk about the issues faced by the people of West Bengal.”