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Mumbai, Feb 12: Mamata Banerjee-led TMC seems to be working towards another resounding victory in the Assembly polls in West Bengal slated for May this year. After having convinced personalities from sports and entertainment to join her party, latest on the list are few well-known Bengalis. Cricketer and former Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, CPIM veteran Abdur Razzak Molla and former BCCI president Late Jagmohan Dalmiya’s daughter Vaishali are also in TMC fold.
Shukla is the most prominent of the three owing to his selfless services to Bengal cricket which eventually earned him the India cap in 1999. The buzz had it when the all-rounder retired from all forms of cricket on the second last day of 2015. Just after retirement, he was spotted meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata at the state secretariat Nabanna and that gave rise to speculation which was put to rest with him joining the TMC brigade. (Also Read: Laxmi Ratan Shukla announces retirement)
If sources are anything to go by, the 34-year-old cricketer will be contesting the Assembly polls from Bali, a suburb close to Howrah where he resides. “He is likely to contest elections on a TMC ticket from Bali,” was what a source, who is in the know told India.com on Friday.
A career spanning almost 19 years, Shukla called time on his career after he overlooked for Bengal side despite declaring himself fit. He made his first-class debut in 1997-98 and straightaway representing India in the Under-19 World Cup. The all-rounder made his international debut in 1999 in Nagpur and has played three ODIs for India. His first-class runs total 6217 in 137 matches with a average of a shade below 36 beside having claimed 172 wickets.
However, Molla was a trusted CPIM leader having a big clout over the minority votes in Canning area of West Bengal. He was an MLA from Canning East constituency and held his seat from 1977 to 2011, when the Left Front government was defeated by the TMC after 34 years. Molla also served the Left Front government as the Minister for Land and Land Reforms. He is likely to contest from the same seat from where he has been winning all through, barring one instance.
Meanwhile, Dalmiya’s daughter Vaishali is a little-known face in Bengal and it is being understood that Mamata’s respect for Dalmiya has earned his daughter the coveted TMC membership. She is also likely to be contesting the polls in May, but the constituency is yet to be decided. It is almost confirmed that she will contest from a seat in Alipore area where the Dalmiyas reside.
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