Kolkata: Amid protests by ticket hopefuls, the BJP Tuesday announced a list of 142 candidates, including 58 women and 18 from religious minorities, for the election to the 144-seat Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The names of candidates for wards 62 and 96 will be announced soon, party state president Rahul Sinha said, adding an election manifesto will also be released within 10 days.
The party, however, did not declare any mayoral candidate.
“We are fielding 58 women candidates and there will be 17 Muslim and one Christian candidate in the fray for the party,” Sinha said.
The list contains names of at least 15 candidates who were once members of the TMC and the CPI-M. The party has fielded Sk Sirajul Islam, a former TMC leader from Ward 75, Janaki Singh, who fought the last state Assembly elections for the CPI(M), from Ward 21 and former TMC councillor Mala Mahalanobish from Ward 93, Sinha said.
Former Forward Bloc leader Sashi Agnihotri has been pitched from ward 85. He said that former TMC state-level secretary Manas Kar would fight from Ward 8.
Meanwhile, protests were organised outside the BJP state office by supporters of some ticket hopefuls.
“We had to select the candidates from among 2,231 applications. We have tried to pitch candidates who we think are the best but that inevitably upsets the aspirations of some who are voicing their objection,” Sinha said.
