Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, the former Union Minister, has entered the electoral fray by filing his nomination as the BJP candidate for West Bengal's Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, as reported on Wednesday.

This move follows his inclusion in the tenth Lok Sabha candidates list released by the BJP, marking a significant development in the state's political landscape.

The BJP's nomination of Ahluwalia comes after Pawan Singh, the initial candidate from Asansol, withdrew his candidature abruptly, opting to contest independently from Bihar's Karakat constituency.

Despite not citing specific reasons for his withdrawal, Singh's departure paved the way for Ahluwalia's nomination, setting the stage for a competitive electoral contest in Asansol.

Ahluwalia, currently serving as the sitting MP from the Burdwan-Durgapur constituency, is poised to face off against Shatrughan Sinha, a heavyweight from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In the previous 2019 election, Ahluwalia secured victory with a narrow margin of 2,439 votes, garnering significant support with 5,98,376 votes, surpassing Mamtaz Sanghamita of the TMC, who secured 5,95,937 votes.

With a rich political background, Ahluwalia has served as the Minister of State for Urban Affairs and Employment as well as Parliamentary Affairs during his tenure in the P V Narasimha Rao cabinet. He also held the position of deputy opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha from June 2010 to May 2012, showcasing a seasoned and experienced political career.

Ahluwalia's journey into BJP's fold dates back to 1999, and he notably clinched victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Darjeeling constituency with strong backing from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. His nomination for Asansol reflects strategic recalibration within the BJP's electoral strategy in West Bengal.

The backdrop of Singh's withdrawal, following criticism from the TMC over his controversial songs, adds an interesting dimension to the electoral narrative in Asansol. This move and the subsequent nomination of Ahluwalia signal a renewed focus on securing a decisive victory in the upcoming polls.

The electoral schedule in West Bengal spans across seven phases, with polling set to take place on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1 for the 42 parliamentary constituencies. Asansol, specifically, is slated for polling on May 13, with the final tally of votes scheduled for counting on June 4.