Congress nominates painter Samir Aich from Bengal's Jadavpur

Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) Congress Friday named famed painter Samir Aich as its candidate from the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal.

Aich, who was in the forefront of the civil society protests over the Nandigram and Singur anti-farmland acquisition movements during the rule of the left Front, continued to support the Trianmool Congress in television debates after it came to power.

However, he faced Banerjee's wrath after he staged a public protest over a rape case, and is now one of her fiercest critics.

The possibility of Aich's nomination from Jadavpur was being discussed over the last few days, and he has already started meeting people in the constituency.

Days back, he had met expelled Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, who wields clout in a part of the constituency, and secured his blessings.

Some Congress heavyweights in the state also figured in the list of candidates announced during the day.

Former state Congress president Manas Bhunia has bagged the ticket from Ghatal in West Midnapore district, while its incumbent general secretary Om Prakash Mishra would be in fray from Balurhat in South Dinajpur district.

Another senior party leader Abdul Mannan has been nominated from Srerampur in Hooghly district.

Peeved over reports that the party was likely to nominate someone other than his choice for the Hooghly seat, Mannan had in the last few days threatened not to contest from Srerampur and even consider retiring from politics.

The candidate from Hooghly was not announced Friday.