BJP Names Rakesh Singh for Kolkata Port Seat, High-Stakes Contest Set in Bengal Polls
AFP
The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its final list of candidates for the West Bengal Assembly elections, naming Rakesh Singh from the crucial Kolkata Port constituency.
The announcement comes just a day after Singh secured bail from the Calcutta High Court.
Rakesh Singh’s candidature has drawn attention due to its timing. The BJP informed the court of its intent to field him, following which he was granted bail by Justice Kausik Chanda.
Singh was arrested in 2025 in connection with a political protest case involving vandalism of Congress posters linked to Rahul Gandhi.
He had been lodged at the Presidency Correctional Home, while the state government opposed his bail, citing multiple pending cases against him.
The BJP has not officially commented on the controversy surrounding Singh’s selection, and the candidate himself did not address the media after the announcement.
The move has intensified political debate, given the sensitive nature of the constituency and Singh’s legal background.
Kolkata Port is set for a high-profile contest between Singh and Firhad Hakim, a senior Trinamool Congress leader who has held the seat since 2011.
The constituency, heading to polls on April 29, is considered a stronghold of the ruling party, with a significant minority voter base influencing electoral outcomes.
With this announcement, the BJP has completed its list of candidates for all 294 seats in West Bengal, including a few backed non-party nominees.
The selection of Rakesh Singh signals BJP’s aggressive electoral strategy in key constituencies, even as it faces strong competition from entrenched regional players.
The BJP’s decision to field Rakesh Singh from Kolkata Port reflects a calculated political gamble ahead of the final phase of polling. While the constituency has historically favoured the Trinamool Congress, the BJP appears to be banking on a high-intensity campaign to challenge the status quo. The timing of Singh’s bail and candidature has added a layer of controversy, which could influence voter perception in the coming days. As the election approaches its decisive phase, Kolkata Port will be closely watched as a test case of both political strategy and ground-level support.
