Non-career politicians in the Assembly elections have fared exceedingly well in TMC. The same, however, can’t be said about those in BJP. Excepting Tollywood actors Saayoni Ghosh, Sayantika Banerjee and Koushani Mukherjee – who lost against designer-turned-Bengal BJP Mohila Morcha president Agnimitra Paul in Asansol South, BJP’s Niladri Sekhar Dana in Bankura and heavyweight competitor Mukul Roy in Krishnanagar North respectively – all celebs from sports and films fielded by TMC emerged victorious. TMC’s winning Tollywood brigade includes director Raj Chakrabarty, singer Aditi Munshi, actors Kanchan Mallick and June Malliah. Pitted against another star contestant – BJP’s Anjana Basu – actress Lovely Maitra of TMC won in Sonarpur Dakshin. Even actor Soham Chakraborty, who had lost the Barjora seat in 2016, won the Chandipur seat against BJP’s Pulak Kanti Guria. Director Raj Chakrabarty, who contested from the tough Barrackpore seat, won against BJP’s Chandramani Shukla. Singer Aditi Munshi won against BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya from the Rajarhat-Gopalpur constituency. If June won against BJP’s Shamit Dash in Medinipore, Kanchan got the better of BJP’s Prabir Kumar Ghosal in Uttarpara. “Now is the time for me to work in my constituency to fight the second wave of Covid,” said Kanchan, who has finished dubbing for two web series after polling of his constituency was over. “Currently, shooting is very restricted. If we can maintain health protocol, we will be able to tide over the Covid crisis and get life back to normalcy,” he also said. Except Hiran Chatterjee, all actors who joined BJP this year, put up a poor show. Hiran was earlier with the TMC’s youth wing before joining the BJP on February 18. The actor won in Kharagpur Sadar against TMC’s Pradip Sarkar. Papiya lost against TMC’s Pulak Roy in Uluberia South. In March, three Tollywood heroines – Srabanti Chatterjee, Paayel Sarkar and Tanushree Chakrabarty – had joined the saffron brigade. But they all lost to TMC rivals – Kalipada Mondal in Shyampur, Partha Chatterjee in Behala West and Ratna Chatterjee, in Behala East. Parno lost to TMC’s Tapas Roy.
