Kolkata, July 9 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday night formally nominated former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Prakash Chik Baraik as its candidates for the July 24 Rajya Sabha by-elections, hours after inducting the trio into the party at its West Bengal headquarters.
The nominations were confirmed in an official press release issued by the BJP's Central Office following approval by the party's Central Election Committee, ending speculation over whether the three recent entrants would be fielded for the bypolls.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed Dev, Roy and Baraik into the party by handing them the BJP flag at the state headquarte...