NEW DELHI – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday, announced the names of Shatrughan Sinha and Babul Supiyo as Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) candidates for bypolls. While Sinha will be the party’s candidate to Asansol parliamentary seat, Babul Supriyo will be fielded as the party’s nominee from Ballygunge for assembly byelection.

The Asansol Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Babul Supriyo, a two-time BJP MP, quit the saffron party last year and joined the TMC.

Incidentally, both the leaders have dropouts from the BJP, the party Mamata is aspiring to dislodge from power at the Centre through a united Opposition.

In a tweet, the TMC chief said, “Happy to announce on behalf of the All India Trinamool Congress that Sri Shatrughan Sinha, former Union Minister and famed actor, will be our candidate in Lok Sabha by-election from Asansol.”

“Sri Babul Supriyo,” she said, “former Union minister and noted singer, will be our candidate in Vidhansabha by-election from Ballygunge. Jai Hind, Jai Bangla, Jai Ma- Mati- Manush!”

The Asansol Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Mr Supriyo, a two-time BJP MP, quit the saffron party last year and joined the TMC.