Snubbing INDIA bloc partner Congress, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced 42 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, ensuring it is fighting a single-handed battle against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who will contest from Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, announced the names of the candidates during the party's major rally in Kolkata's iconic Brigade Parade Ground.

Yusuf Pathan likely to take on Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in his bastion

In its list, the TMC fielded former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan from senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's bastion Baharampur.

The politically crucial seat is expected to see a fight between Yusuf and five-time Congress MP from West Bengal Chowdhury.

Chowdhury has won the seat for the past five terms.

Kirit Azad fielded from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency

1983 World Cup champion player Kirti Azad, a former BJP leader, will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency.

Nusrat Jahan dropped

Sitting MP actor Nusrat Jahan was dropped from the list and instead of her Haji Nurul Islam will contest for TMC from the crucial Basirhat seat.

The seat assumes significance amid the Sandeshkhali row, an episode which hit national headlines and eventually led to the arrest of TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan.

What happened in Sandeshkhali?

The turmoil in Sandeshkhali, a remote block about 80 kms from Kolkata and a part of the Basirhat sub-division of North 24 Parganas district, broke out first in early January when a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) reached TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's residence to quiz him in connection with the ration distribution scam in the state.

Shahjahan's aides allegedly assaulted and chased the ED officers turning the area into a political hotspot months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Several women from the village came out with brooms and sticks demanding the arrest of the TMC strongman.

The protesting women have alleged Shahjahan and his aides captured several lands forcefully and sexually harassed them.

Shahjahan, who absconded for several weeks, was later arrested.

Amid criticisms from the opposition, Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan broke silence on the Sandeshkhali row and said she always followed her party's guidelines and served the people.

TMC replaces Mimi with Saayoni Ghosh in Jadavpur

The TMC also replaced Jadavpur MP and actress Mimi Chakraborty with her Tollywood colleague and party leader Saayoni Ghosh in its list.

Mahua Moitra to fight from Krishnanagar

Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in a bribe-for-question scam, will be contesting from Krishnanagar.

She was elected from the same seat in 2019.