Khela Hobe: game on as Trinamool fields sportspersons in north Bengal

An Asian Games gold medal-winning athlete and a former first-class cricketer who represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy are Trinamool Congress candidates contesting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates in North Bengal.

Swapna Barman, the first Indian heptathlete to win an Asian Games gold medal in 2018, is the Trinamool candidate from the Rajganj Assembly seat in the state’s Jalpaiguri district. On Monday, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials formally accepted his resignation and issued him a leave letter to contest the West Bengal elections.

The famous athlete, who joined the ruling party on February 27, 2026, weeks before the polls, realized that sports and politics are different disciplines.

Swapna Barman, the first Indian heptathlete to win an Asian Games gold medal in 2018, is the Trinamool candidate from the Rajganj Assembly seat in the state’s Jalpaiguri district. | Photo Credit: Special editing

Ms. Barman said, “Sports is a very different field and cannot be compared to politics. Individual dedication and hard work are important in sports and bring success. In politics, everything depends on the will of the people.” Hindu. The 29-year-old, who hails from Jalpaiguri, promises to try to set up a sports academy in his constituency if elected. “I want many Swapna Bartenders to emerge from North Bengal,” he said.

The athlete, who won numerous medals in national and international events, recently suffered a personal tragedy with the death of his father, Panchanan Barman. Ms. Barman, who is often seen posing with tea garden workers, describes herself as the “local girl who needs no introduction” and was sent by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

Hailing from the Rajbangshi community, Ms. Barman grew up in Jalpaiguri and has won several awards, including the prestigious Arjuna Award. “The people in my constituency are very simple, they just want peace and development. That’s what I will strive for,” he said.

The athlete is competing against BJP’s Dinesh Sarkar, who has affiliations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. CPI(M) fielded Kharendranath Roy from the district where the tea gardens are located.

About 150 km from Rajganj is the Tufanganj Assembly seat in Cooch Behar district, where former first-class cricketer Shib Sankar Paul has joined the election fray on a Trinamool ticket. The 46-year-old was a right-arm fast bowler and represented the Bengal cricket team for several years. He joined Trinamool on March 16, a day before the party announced its poll candidates.

“I prepare for survey campaigns just like preparing for a match. I exercise, then do my homework on the place I am visiting,” said the former cricketer, who was also in India’s Test squad during the 2004-05 series against Australia.

Mr Paul says both cricket and politics do not come easy to anyone. “Playing cricket is very difficult, no one can say that they will get that many runs or wickets. Likewise, politics is also difficult… But I am happy that I can reach people and understand their problems,” he said.

The former bowler says he could only help a handful of people when he was playing or coaching, but after joining Trinamool and participating in polls, he hopes he can come to the aid of the masses. He is contesting against Malati Rava Roy, a two-term MLA of the BJP who is serving as the party’s district president. CPI(M) fielded Dhananjay Rava.

In the past, Trinamool fielded many candidates from Bengal television and film industry but this time the party has pinned its hopes on sportspersons to revive its prospects in North Bengal.