BJP Fields Bengal’s Royal Heritage Against TMC’s Mahua Moitra

Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded ‘rajmata’ (Queen Mother) of the Krishnanagar royal family, Amrita Roy against Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra in Bengal’s Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency.

In its fifth list of candidates comprising 111 names, the BJP included the name of Amrita Roy who joined the party last week. This move by the saffron party is seen as a trump card ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, India Today reported.

Krishnanagar has a rich cultural heritage and a candidate from the royal palace connects Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy’s name directly with politics. Krishna Chandra was an eminent personality in Indian history especially in Bengal, known for his wise and visionary rule during the 18th century. His legacy is cherished in the eastern state even today, thanks to the administrative reforms, promotion of the arts, and Bengali culture that defined his 55-year rule.

Poll experts said that Amrita Roy’s candidature will boost the BJP, and will also help the party give a strong fight to TMC’s Mahua Moitra.

Moitra, who won the Krishnanagar constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, defeating BJP’s Kalyan Chaubey by a massive margin of 63,218 votes received maximum number of votes from the Chopra, Palashipara and Kaliganj assemblies.

In the last five years, the BJP has strengthened its base in the Kaliganj Assembly. Additionally, the party seems to consider the fact that TMC’s organisational strength has weakened in the past few months in the region. Corruption charges and infighting in the party are some of the hurdles for the TMC in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The nomination of ‘Ranima’ Amrita Roy – a local, influential and familiar face – will help the party in widening the vote gap and gain forces in Krishnanagar, according to sources.