New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said former union minister Shatrughan Sinha will be her party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha by-election from Asansol.
The TMC chief also said former union minister Babul Supriyo will be her party’s candidate for the assembly by-election from Ballygunge.
“Happy to announce on behalf of the All India Trinamool Congress that Sri Shatrughan Sinha, former Union Minister and famed actor, will be our candidate in Loksabha by-election from Asansol,” Banerjee tweeted.
“Sri Babul Supriyo, former union minister and noted singer, will be our candidate in Vidhansabha by- election from Ballygunge. Jai Hind, Jai Bangla, Jai Ma- Mati- Manush!” she wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
The Asansol seat fell vacant after sitting MP Babul Supriyo resigned from the Lok Sabha earlier in October last year following differences with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre.
The singer-turned politician later joined the TMC.
Meanwhile, West Bengal’s Ballygunge assembly seat fell vacant after sitting MLA and state minister Subrata Mukherjee breathed his last in November last year following a brief illness.
Earlier on Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that by-polls for Asansol Lok Sabha seat and four assembly seats - one each in Maharashtra (Kolhapur North), Chhattisgarh (Khairagarh), Bihar (Bochaha) and West Bengal (Ballygunge) - will be held on April 12.
The notification for the by-polls, as per the ECI, will be issued on March 17.
The last date of nominations is March 24, while the last date for withdrawal is March 28.
The counting of votes for the by-polls will be held on April 16.