Anant Maharaj, the head of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, has been nominated by the BJP to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha.
In the midst of widespread rumours that it could nominate former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly or Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty for the Upper House, the BJP made the announcement on Wednesday.
The first West Bengali member of the BJP’s Rajya Sabha delegation will be Anant Maharaj.
On Tuesday, July 11, even BJP MP and Union Minister of State for the Interior Nishit Pramanik visited Anant Maharaj’s home, allegedly on the orders of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The minister said before party’s confirmation, “If the list is not published, it cannot be said who is going to the Rajya Sabha, but we want people like him to be candidates. People need him. He works for the interests of North Bengal.”
Anant Maharaj was on both the lists compiled by state BJP leaders Sukanta Majumder (BJP state unit chairman) and Suvendu Adhikari (Leader of Opposition).
The BJP Bengal leadership had sent two separate lists to Delhi for a single seat in the Rajya Sabha.
The National Election Commission has issued a notification for the elections to seven Rajya Sabha seats in Bengal on July 6. The last day to submit nominations is July 13. Voting for Rajya Sabha elections will be held on July 24.
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