A political face-off between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified in West Bengal after the ruling party nominated four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, triggering sharp reactions from the Opposition.The West Bengal unit of the BJP questioned the choices made by the TMC, alleging that the party failed to nominate even a single long-serving grassroots leader. It said instead of rewarding dedicated workers who stood by the party during its years in opposition, the TMC selected individuals from outside its traditional organisational structure.On its social media platform X, the West Bengal BJP posted, “The Trinamool Congress couldn’t find a single political leader from within its own ranks? Not one dedicated party worker for four Rajya Sabha seats? Instead, nominations go to an actress, a singer (formerly with the BJP), a former police officer, and a lawyer — individuals who were not with the party during its difficult years, when it struggled in opposition and workers carried the flag through blood, sweat and sacrifice. What message does this send to TMC’s grassroots workers?”BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that the “woke gang” within the TMC had reduced Menaka Guruswamy’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha to her sexuality. He further claimed that “mullahs, who fuel Mamata Banerjee’s election campaigns with their support, including fake and illegal voters, are fuming, calling it an affront to their faith”.”Senior TMC leader Mahua Moitra, meanwhile, hailed Guruswamy’s nomination as a landmark moment, describing it as a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in India.In a post on X, Moitra defended the choice of candidates, writing: “Huge step forward for the LGBTQ+ movement in India as @MenakaGuruswamy becomes the first queer woman in India’s Parliament! Kudos to @MamataOfficial @abhishekaitc for walking the talk and ensuring dignity and representation for all citizens. Proud of Bengal.”The Trinamool Congress on Friday named Supreme Court lawyer Menaka Guruswamy, Babul Supriyo, former DGP Rajeev Kumar and actor Koel Mullick as its nominees for the Rajya Sabha elections.