Trinamool’s 4 Rajya Sabha picks file papers, thank CM

Kolkata: With gratitude on their lips, Trinamool's Rajya Sabha picks Rajeev Kumar, Menaka Guruswamy, Koel Mallick and Babul Supriyo filed their nominations on Thursday.

Ex-DGP Kumar arrived at the assembly well ahead of schedule. After filing his papers, Kumar quoted Mother Teresa to say: "I would like to repeat a quote from Mother Teresa: ‘I know God will not give me any responsibility that I cannot handle. I only wish He didn't trust me so much'."


Speaking to the media later, he said: "This is a big responsibility and a great honour. I thank chief minister Mamata Banerjee for giving me this opportunity."

Senior advocate Guruswamy called the nomination a significant honour and emphasised the importance of constitutional values in legislative work. "It is a great honour. As a constitutional lawyer, I am grateful for the opportunity to work in the Rajya Sabha, which plays a crucial role in lawmaking. I thank chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress for giving me this opportunity," she said.

Guruswamy added: "The Constitution speaks of equality, non-discrimination and the dignity of every citizen. I will work to uphold these values in Parliament every day and ensure that the laws we make are consistent with these principles."

Actor Mallick described the nomination as the beginning of a new chapter in her life. "I am beginning a new chapter in my life. This is a big responsibility. I hope everyone will bless me so that I can serve the people and the country to the best of my ability," she said.

Mallick said she never imagined she would go to Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament. "I feel very fortunate to be chosen for such an important responsibility," she added.

State minister Supriyo expressed gratitude to the TMC leadership for reposing faith on him. "I thank CM Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for deciding to send me to the Upper House of Parliament. They believed I would carry out this responsibility with honesty and dedication. Parliament is not a new place for me. As a Union minister, I attended the Rajya Sabha to answer questions from members," he said.

Drawing a comparison with his earlier career as a singer, Supriyo added: "When I perform on stage as an artist, people request their favourite songs. This, too, is a kind of stage where there is an opportunity to perform — only the nature of the requests changes. People ask for roads to be built or funds for schools."

With numbers firmly stacked in its favour in the 294-member assembly, Trinamool is set to win four of the five Rajya Sabha seats from the state, and BJP is expected to secure one. The EC has declared that polling for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across multiple states, including Bengal, will be held on March 16.