Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress nominated Ritabrata Banerjee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-elections in Bengal on Saturday. The party announced the decision on social media platform X, expressing that under the inspiration of Hon'ble Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, they were pleased to name Banerjee as their candidate for the by-elections.
In a statement, the Trinamool Congress extended their best wishes to Banerjee, emphasizing their hope that he would uphold the party’s enduring legacy of indomitable spirit and continue advocating for the rights of all Indians.
Abhishek Banerjee, general secretary and MP of Trinamool Congress, praised the nomination, stating that it was well-deserved and reflected Banerjee's tireless efforts in strengthening the party and supporting trade union workers across West Bengal. He highlighted that while success may take time, commitment, performance, and hard work are always ultimately rewarded.
The vacancy for the Rajya Sabha seat arose after Jawhar Sircar, a former MP and bureaucrat, resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the Trinamool Congress. Sircar's resignation was a protest against the rape and murder of a doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata and alleged corruption within the state administration.
Banerjee, a former general secretary of CPI(M)'s student wing, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), was initially nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2014. After being expelled from the CPI(M) in 2017, he served as an independent member for three years before joining the Trinamool Congress. In 2021, Banerjee was appointed as the state president of the party's trade union wing, the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC).
With IANS inputs