“We are pleased to announce the candidature of Sagarika Ghose, Sushmita Dev, Mohammad Nadimul Haque and Mamata Bala Thakur for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections. We extend our heartfelt wishes to them and may they work towards upholding Trinamool’s enduring legacy of indomitable spirit and advocacy for the rights of every Indian,” TMC posted in its official X handle in the afternoon.
Bengal is set to witness elections for five vacant seats in April, along with 51 others across the nation. Since there is no sixth nomination from Bengal, all five candidates are expected to be elected uncontested.
“Sagarika is a familiar face, known nationally. She adds to the diversity of our representatives in the Rajya Sabha,” a Trinamool MP of Rajya Sabha said. “Ours will be the youngest team in the upper house with only three out of 13 above the age of 70. Four from minority community, 40 per cent women’s representation,” he added.
Ghose, a former prime-time anchor, a Rhodes scholar, is known for her biographies of Atal Behari Vajpayee and Indira Gandhi.
Ghose, on May 21, 2012 had come to Kolkata to host the Bengal chief minister, a year into office, at the historic Town Hall on her show Question Time with Didi.
The show was intended to provide an open platform for Mamata to address questions from a section of the audience as she approached completing a year in office. However, it took the CM less than 12 minutes and only five questions to walk out of the show. Following this, Ghose hurried to Writers’ Buildings to appease Mamata, and an interview was done with no audience.
“By nominating three women, Didi has demonstrated the party’s commitment to female representation across all levels,’” said a TMC leader.
Sushmita Dev, the daughter of the late Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, served as a TMC nominee in the upper house until her term ended in October 2023. Dev, who is also TMC’s national spokesperson, looks after the party’s affairs in Assam.