CPI(M) candidate Saira Shah Halim on Saturday said that she is contesting the upcoming Ballygunge Assembly bypolls in a bid to end communal politics and to build a syncretic culture.
"Ballygunge is an interesting constituency. There are people from all strata of society. Issues of education, jobs, sanitation, electricity and water need to be solved. I am contesting to end communal politics and to build a syncretic culture," Ms Saira told ANI.
The Left Front has fielded the CPI (M) candidate against Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Babul Supriyo and BJP's nominee Keya Ghosh.
Ms Saira, an activist and motivational speaker is the niece of actor Naseeruddin Shah. Her husband Dr Fuad Halim had contested the 2011 Assembly polls from the Ballygunge seat on a CPI(M) ticket.
By-polls in the Ballygunge Assembly constituency will be held on April 12 while results will be declared on April 16.
The polls are seen as a prestige battle in the state ruled by Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which had trounced the BJP in the Assembly polls in 2021.
The Ballygunge Assembly seat fell vacant following the demise of state Minister Subrata Mukherjee.
On Babul Supriyo's "No Class" Jab After Poll Win, CPM Leader's Comeback Trinamool's Babul Supriyo Is Back, Wins Bengal's Ballygunge Bypoll Trinamool's Babul Supriyo Wins Bengal's Ballygunge Assembly Bypoll Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Opposes Karnataka's Job Quota Bill, Minister Responds World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Puja Khedkar's Father Was Suspended Twice On Extortion Complaints Meet Gagan, A Daily Wager Who Cracked IIT Despite All Odds Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.