Suvendu Adhikary, 39

He’s being called the giant-killer in Bengal politics after his victory over CPI(M) bigwig Lakshman Seth in Tamluk. His political career began in 1995, when he became a councillor from Contai Municipality. Three years later, he was inducted into the Pradesh Congress Committee in the state. He rose fast, becoming a member of Midnapore district’s planning commission. He was made director of the Contai Co-operative Bank and in 2005, was re-elected councillor of Contai Municipality.

Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, 50

One of three doctors in the Mamata camp, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar won from the Barasat constituency. The Mahila Trinamool Congress president and former MLA leads the party’s women brigade. An ultrasonology specialist, Dastidar has been involved in politics for a while. She began her medical career with RG Kar Medical College and went on to study at Kings’ College in London. It remains to be seen if Mamata’s trusted ally will deliver what appears to be a tall promise—to set up super-specialty hospitals in all seven assembly segments in Barasat.

Dr Ratna Dey Nag, 57

Nag, who belongs to a prominent Congress family, defeated seven-time MP and CPI(M) heavyweight Rupchand Pal. A child specialist who worked at the Srirampore Walsh Hospital for a while, Nag is the daughter of popular leader Gopal Das Nag, a minister in the Siddhartha Shankar Ray cabinet.

Ambica Banerjee, 82

The industrialist may have raised a few eyebrows when he declared his assets to be worth Rs 6 crore but the former Congress MLA brings his vast experience to the party. A senior member of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) who is known to be close to former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, he has been involved closely with the Kolkata Maidan’s sports affairs. Banerjee won by a margin of 38,892 votes from the CPI(M) stronghold of Howrah.

... contd.