Mamata hints at nominating Shubhendu from Nandigram next year

Nandigram (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today hinted at nominating party leader and Tamluk MP Shubhendu Adhikari as the party candidate from Nandigram in the upcoming assembly polls next year.

Apparently paving the way of Adhikari becoming the member of her cabinet in the event of TMC’s victory in the assembly polls, Banerjee told a public meeting here, “I want to see Shubhendu as a minister in my cabinet from Nandigram (after the next polls).”

As the TMC supremo spoke, Adhikari and the present TMC MLA from Nandigram Firoza Bibi looked on from the podium.

The CM’s announcement raised speculation about Adhikari’s entry into the state politics in a bigger way.

Adhikari had earlier been replaced as chief of All India Trinamool Youth Congress with the appointment of Chief Minister’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Banerjee also told the gathering, “I have never forgotten Nandigram. Singur-Nandigram have been milestones in my life.”

“I can never forget the sacrifices made by people of Nandigram. We can never forget the atrocities in the name of sunrise,” she said referring to the Nandigram agitation in 2007 which had been spearheaded by Adhikari and his father Sisir Adhikari, TMC MP from Contai.