Although the Congress is yet to bring out its list of candidates because of bickering over three seats — Murshidabad, Malda North and Darjeeling — party insiders say Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will contest from Jangipur, Subrata Mukherjee from Bankura, Deepa Dasmunsi from Raigunj, Adhir Chowdhury from Berhampur and Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, brother of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury, from Malda South.

In addition, Asit Mal is expected to contest from Bolpur, Shantiram Mahato from Purulia, Nargis Begum from Burdwan-Durgapur, Amrit Hansda from Jhargram and Sukh Bilas Verma from Jalpaiguri. The fate of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi’, Mahua Moitra, is also hanging in the balance as Congress is yet to decide over granting her a ticket.

Congress leaders in Delhi are yet to decide on Darjeeling, Malda North and Murshidabad seats. Mannan Hussain, who won last time from Murshidabad, was the first choice from that constituency, but his bete noir Adhir Choudhury stood in his way by recently sending a report against him to Congress high command. For the Malda North seat, the Congress is yet to decide between Sabitri Mitra and Mousam Noor, now an MLA.

Meanwhile, tension is brewing between Congress and Trinamool members in some areas. In Krishnanagar, where TMC candidate and Tollywood star Tapas Paul has started campaigning, few Congress workers have extended their support. An exasperated Pal took a break in his campaign schedule to visit the chairman of Krishnanagar municipality and Congress leader Asim Saha, but this failed to end the deadlock.

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