T

he Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a list of 148 candidates on Thursday for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls but two of the candidates, who are not part of the BJP, have denied the to contest elections on a BJP ticket. The BJP nominated late Congress leader Somen Mitra's wife Shikha Mitra from the Chowringhee constituency and outgoing Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, Mala Saha's husband, Tarun Saha from Kashipur-Belgachia constituency of north Kolkata.

After the nomination was announced, Shikha Mitra clarified that she will not be joining BJP or contest elections on the party's ticket. "No, I am not contesting from anywhere. My name has been announced without my consent. Also, I am not joining the BJP," Ms Mitra said. Similarly, Tarun Saha said that his name was announced without consulting him and he has not joined the BJP.

Mala Saha had won twice the Kashipur-Belgachia seat for the TMC in 2011 and 2016 state assembly elections. However, this time, the party fielded the outgoing deputy mayor of Kolkata, Atin Ghosh from the seat. Meanwhile, TMC leaders took a dig at the BJP for the fiasco. "...BJP finally announce West Bengal candidates after two weeks and those on list say they're not in the BJP and they are not running on a BJP ticket. Time for some homework, Mr Shah," Trinamool MP Mahua Mitra tweeted. West Bengal Assembly elections to 294 seats will be held in eight phases from March 27 to April 29 while the counting of votes will take place on May 2.