If there was ever a star-studded candidates' list, then Mamata Banerjee has pulled it off.
If there was ever a star-studded candidates' list, then Mamata Banerjee has pulled it off. From film stars to footballers to singers and even a high profile professor from Harvard! Finally, Mamata has also thrown in a bit of dynasty.
But Mamata's biggest catch, easily, is Dev of Paglu fame. With the recent success of Chander Pahar behind him, Dev is the darling of Bengali cinema. He will fight from Ghatal against CPI's Santosh Rana.
Glamour girl Moon Moon Sen has been fielded in Bankura against CPM veteran Basudev Acharya but she is undaunted. She has known Mamata for long but she really bonded with her during her mother, Suchitra Sen's, illness and subsequent passing away.
"I am going to go in for it with all my heart and soul and may the best man win or the best woman. And good luck to Basudevda because he has been there for a very long time but as Trinamool says, it's time for change. Poriborton," says Moon Moon.
On the other extreme is a history professor from Havard, Sugata Bose, who is the son of former TMC MP Krishna Bose. His seat, Jadavpur, Mamata's seat in 1984, was the seat from which she began her parliamentary career after defeating CPM stalwart Somnath Chatterjee.
"Mamata Banerjee has always wanted to induct people from different walks of life and I think I am representing the field of education on her list," he says. And he is rooting for Mamata as PM.
There is also a little bit of dynasty thrown in. Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata's nephew, is contesting from Diamond Harbour against CPM's Abul Hasnat.
Finally, Bhaichung Bhutia, ace footballer, is headed for Darjeeling against CPM's Saman Pathak.
The CPM, which has also announced its list of candidates, has a major surprise. Suhasini Ali, daughter of Lakshmi Sehgal who was a soldier in Netaji's army will contest from Barrackpore.