The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a significant move in West Bengal’s political landscape by nominating Abhijit Gangopadhyay for a Lok Sabha ticket, just days after his resignation as a judge from the Calcutta High Court. This development comes as part of the BJP’s announcement of 111 additional candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Abhijit Gangopadhyay, born in Kolkata in 1962, has a notable legal and administrative background. He attended Mitra Institution before pursuing his legal education at Hazra Law College in Kolkata. Initially serving as a West Bengal Civil Service Grade A officer in Uttar Dinajpur district, Gangopadhyay later transitioned to private practice as a state lawyer in the Calcutta High Court after completing his graduation.
Gangopadhyay’s judicial career saw a steady rise, with him reaching the rank of additional judge in 2018 and subsequently becoming a permanent judge two years later. However, in April last year, he became embroiled in controversy after discussing a case involving the ‘school jobs for cash scam’ in an interview with a TV channel. His remarks, particularly concerning TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s alleged involvement, drew criticism from the Supreme Court, which stated that sitting judges should refrain from giving media interviews.
The decision to nominate Gangopadhyay for a Lok Sabha ticket is significant, especially considering the political dynamics in West Bengal. The Tamluk seat, for which he has been nominated, has been a stronghold of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) since the 2009 election. The move indicates the BJP’s intent to challenge the TMC’s dominance in the region.
In addition to Gangopadhyay’s nomination, the BJP has also made other strategic changes in its Lok Sabha candidates list from West Bengal. Notably, Dilip Ghosh, the current MP representing Medinipur, has been shifted to Bardhaman–Durgapur, while the incumbent S S Ahluwalia has been dropped.
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal are poised to be highly competitive, with both the BJP and the TMC making strategic moves to secure key seats and expand their influence in the state.
Sources By Agencies
