Roopa Ganguly is BJP’s face in Kolkata municipal polls

Actress Roopa Ganguly is the BJP’s face in the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls.

Ms Ganguly, who is known for her role as Draupadi in the mega television serial Mahabharat, joined the BJP in January this year.

Though the party has stopped short of declaring her as its official mayoral candidate, it is interesting that Ms Ganguly’s candidature was announced by West Bengal party president Rahul Sinha at New Delhi.

She will be contesting from ward number 96 of the city’s civic body.

Ms Ganguly said that she is ready to play whatever role the party assigns her and alleged that there have been many financial irregularities in the last five years the Trinamool Congress was in power in the civic body.

Senior State BJP leaders said Ms Ganguly’s popularity will boost the party’s prospects in the civic polls.

In the upcoming polls for the city’s municipal corporation, the Left Front, the BJP and the TMC have given more prominence to female candidates.

While the TMC has fielded 66 candidates for a board comprising 144 councillors, the BJP has nominated 60 female candidates. The Left Front has fielded 75 female candidates, highest by any political party or alliance.

KMC’s sitting Mayor Sovon Chatterjee is the TMC candidate for the post of Mayor if the party comes back to power. Like the BJP, the Left Front has not nominated any candidate for the post of Mayor.

The announcement of elections to 144 wards of the KMC was issued by the State Election Commission on March 16. The polls will be held on April 18.