Jogen Chowdhury, Mithun Chakraborty to be TMC RS candidates

Trinamool Congress today announced the nomination of painter Jogen Chowdhury, actor Mithun Chakraborty and two others as their candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in the state.
Five Rajya Sabha seats will be falling vacant in West Bengal in April, for which elections are scheduled on February 7.
"Today we had our election committee meeting to finalise the names of candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections. We will have four candidates. One is actor Mithun Chakraborty, second is painter Jogen Chowdhury, third is K D Singh, who is a Trinamool MP from Jharkhand and the fourth is Ahmed Hassan, editor of Kalom daily," Trinamool Congress General Secretary Mukul Roy said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday announced the nomination of actor Mithun Chakraborty as her party's candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.
According to the strength in the Assembly, Trinamool with 186 seats, would be able to send three members to Rajya Sabha. It also has the support of six MLAs of the GJM and an Independent. The Left Front with about sixty seats will be able to secure one seat.
A candidate needs 49 votes to win the Rajya Sabha race in West Bengal, which has 294 Assembly seats.

"All names have been approved by our chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," Roy said.

The fourth TMC candidate, Ahmad Hasan, will have to face a contest for the Rajya Sabha elections.
These five seats were with the CPI(M)-led Left Front and their supporting candidates.