West Bengal polls: Three-time Amdanga TMC MLA urges party to reconsider decision to replace him as candidate

Kolkata, Three-time Trinamool Congress MLA from Amdanga, Rafiqur Rahaman, on Wednesday urged the party leadership to reconsider its decision to field a new candidate from the constituency.

Protests erupted after the party announced the name of Peerzada Kasem Siddiqui as its candidate for the seat, replacing Rahaman.

As part of the protests, Rahaman's supporters blocked the Amdanga-Kakinara Road in West Bengal's North 24 district, burnt tyres, and raised slogans in his favour as well as for the party.


"I urge the party (leadership) to change its decision," Rahaman said, adding that he remains a worker of the party and stands by it.

Rahman expressed doubts about the party's prospects in the constituency following the change.

"I do not know how successful we will be this time," he said, adding that party workers, as well as the general public, were not in support of Siddiqui.

The party has denied renomination to 74 MLAs, announcing new candidates in their place for the assembly elections.

The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.