BJP releases candidate list for Kolkata civic polls

The BJP on Monday released its candidate list for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) election scheduled to take place on December 19. The party announced names of its candidates for all the 144 wards under KMC. BJP leader and spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said in Kolkata that the party has given importance to women and youth, besides selecting advocates, doctors and teachers as their candidates. “About 48 of our candidates are below the age of 48. A large number of our candidates are women. There are also advocates, doctors and teachers who have been made candidates,” said Bhattacharya after announcing the names. According to him, the majority of candidates are old-time party workers.

Talking about the petition the saffron party has filed before Calcutta High Court seeking elections to all municipal bodies in the state in a single phase, Bhattacharya said it would wait for the judiciary to take a call on the matter.  "We will go by whatever the judiciary decides. People of other municipalities, too, had not been able to vote for the last couple of years, despite the term expiry of the boards," he added.Bhattacharya further said that the BJP doesn't believe in "family-driven politics unlike some other parties" and the selection process went through a transparent and fair process.

The State Election Commission had on Thursday issued the poll notification for KMC, scheduling the election on December 19. The last date for filing of nominations is December 1 and counting will begin on December 22. The civic election in Howrah was deferred as the matter is pending in the Calcutta High Court. The TMC, Left Front and Congress have already announced names of their candidates for the KMC election.