India, March 3 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday nominated its former West Bengal unit president Rahul Sinha for one of the five Rajya Sabha seats from the state that will go to polls on March 16.

Five seats from West Bengal are scheduled for election to the Upper House this month.

"Rahul Sinha is a prominent political personality who strengthened the party's base in West Bengal and served as state president as well as a national secretary," the BJP said.

With 75 legislators in the 294-member state assembly, compared to 215 of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), the BJP has the numerical strength to ensure Sinha's victory.

On February 27, the AITC surprised many by nominating former state director general of police R...