Trinamool Congress’s Sushmita Dev likely to get elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed

Trinamool Congress nominated candidate Sushmita Dev is likely to get elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha in the absence of a BJP nominated candidate.

“We are battle ready for Tripura. I have filed my nomination today. Last date of withdrawal is September 27 and that is the last date. BJP has not given a candidate. I will get the certificate on that date and it will strengthen our stand in Tripura. Our target is Tripura polls in 2023,” Sushmita Dev said.

Sushmita Dev, a former Congress leader, who recently joined Trinamool Congress, filed her nomination on Monday in the presence of Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee and other Trinamool MLAs. The last date for filling the nomination is September 22 while the Rajya Sabha by-poll is slated on October 4.

“Sushmita Dev has submitted nomination today at Bengal Assembly,” Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, adding that “BJP has lost its foothold and is scared to field any candidate in Rajya Sabha.”

Announcing BJP’s decision not to contest in Rajya Sabha. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday, taking to twitter, said, “The BJP will not nominate any candidate for Rajyasabha bypoll due in West Bengal. Outcome is predetermined. Our focus is to make sure the unelected CM is unelected once again.”

Reacting to Suvendu’s comment on Mamata Banerjee remaining “unelected”, Chatterjee, exuding confidence that Mamata Banerjee will victory with a historical margin from Bhabanipur, said Mamata Banerjee will beat all her previous margins in the by-poll.

Whether Sushmita Dev is likely to get elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed and uncontested will be understood on September 27, the last day of filing nomination, Trinamool sources said.

On September 14, Sushmita Dev, who is working hard to expand and strengthen the Trinamool Congress party’s organizational base in Tripura, was nominated for the Rajya Sabha by Mamata Banerjee.

Veteran former Congressman and Trinamool leader Manas Bhuniya has defected to the Trinamool Congress a few years back and he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He resigned from the Rajya Sabha seat after getting elected as MLA in 2021 assembly polls from Sabang seat. Following which the Rajya Sabha seat was vacated.

Recently, another Trinamool nominated candidate and former IAS officer Jawhar Sircar won uncontested from Trinamool Congress as BJP did not field any candidate.