Kolkata, April 8 (IANS) The BJP on Wednesday announced the name of Rakesh Singh as its candidate for Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, days after he got bail from the Calcutta High Court. The move has raised eyebrows in political circles.

There was speculation that the Bengal BJP leadership could field him against senior Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim for Kolkata Port this time.

That speculation has been confirmed after the official announcement from the BJP. Meanwhile, as soon as his name was announced as a candidate, Rakesh has taken to the field. He has started door to door campaigning in various wards since Wednesday morning. He also offered prayers at a local temple in Kolkata Port area.

It may be noted that in August last year BJP leader Rakesh Singh was accused of vandalising the state Congress headquarters (Bidhan Bhavan) in Moulali area of central Kolkata and smearing ink on its leader Rahul Gandhi’s poster.

It was alleged that the attack on the Congress office in Kolkata was organised in protest against comments made against the family of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s election rally in Bihar last year.

However, Rakesh Singh had gone into hiding after the incident. The police registered a case against him under several sections including the Arms Act and started an investigation.

Based on the investigation, the police arrested Rakesh Singh from Tangra area in September last year. Several of his followers were also arrested. Even the BJP leader’s son Shivam Singh was arrested by the police. Later he was out on bail.

However, in October last year, Rakesh Singh and his son were arrested by Kolkata Police for going on a rampage inside a housing complex in Kasba area of Kolkata. The police had also detained the minor daughter of BJP leader over the same charge.

After his nomination as a BJP candidate, questions have been raised in political circles on Rakesh Singh being given a party ticket to contest the election when several criminal cases are pending against him.

–IANS

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