The All India Trinamool Congress has named Shrreya Pande as its candidate from the Maniktala Assembly constituency, marking a continuation of a political legacy in the area.
Who is Shrreya Pande?
Shrreya Pande is the daughter of late Sadhan Pande, a senior Trinamool Congress leader and former minister in the West Bengal government. She is a former actor who starred in three Bengali films: 'Priyotama' (2006), 'Prem' (2007), and 'Ashchorjyo Prodeep' (2013). Pande currently serves as a secretary of the West Bengal Trinamool Youth Congress, TMC's youth wing.
Sadhan Pande represented the Maniktala constituency for several terms and remained a prominent face in Kolkata politics until his death on February 20, 2022.
The Maniktala seat fell vacant after Sadhan Pande's death. However, a bypoll could not be conducted within six months, due to a legal hurdle. BJP leader, and now-AIFF president, Kalyan Chaubey had filed an election petition in the Calcutta High Court alleging irregularities in polling and seeking a recount of votes.
Under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no election can be held in a constituency while such a petition remains pending. The situation changed on April 29, 2024, when Chaubey withdrew his petition, clearing the way for the bypoll.
In the subsequent by-election, the Trinamool Congress fielded Supti Pande, the wife of Sadhan Pande, who went on to win the seat. Now, Sadhan and Supti's daughter Shrreya has been fielded from the constituency.
TMC's broader candidate list
Shrreya Pande's candidature comes as part of a wider list announced by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee will contest from her home turf of Bhabanipur.
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Other key candidates from the city include former journalist Kunal Ghosh from Beleghata, Sandipan Saha from Entally, Nayna Bandyopadhyay from Chowringhee, Dr. Shashi Panja from Shyampukur, and Atin Ghosh from Cossipore-Belgachhia.
With her nomination, Shrreya Pande steps into a constituency closely associated with her father, carrying forward a political legacy while facing expectations to retain the party's stronghold in Maniktala.
