Sinha, a former union minister under BJP, though told News18, “I stand on the faith that Mamata Banerjee has placed in me. We must see to it that all come together so that all can be developed, made better, and Bengal can be taken forward.”

So why Shatrughan Sinha from Asansol?

TMC insiders say that Babul wanted to work for various areas of Bengal, so he might be allocated duties that are state-specific. That is why he has not been given the MP ticket.

Secondly, since local Trinamool leaders of Asansol had fought against Babul for 10 years, there might have been an awkward situation.

Thirdly, the new face will represent a fresh approach for party workers and it will be difficult for the opposition to counter it, they say.

Asansol has a more than 40% non-Bengali population. The area is studded with coal mines, and a lot of the workers there are from Bihar.

So, versatile actor Shatrughan Sinha’s ‘Bihari Babu’ image may woo a significant section of the voters in Asansol.

Keeping in view all of the abovementioned reasons, Sinha seemed to be an apt choice, say Trinamool leaders.

“Bengali language, culture…I like it very much. I have done a lot of Bengali movies. I have been in touch with Bengal from the very beginning,” Sinha told News18. “There are people from all over India living there. People from all over the country including Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra live in Asansol, Durgapur.”

But the BJP is now trying to pay the TMC back in its own coin by trying to capture the “bahari” narrative. Trinamool led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee attempted to portray BJP leaders as “outsiders” in the run-up to last year’s assembly polls, while emphasising on Bengali nationalism.

Commenting on the BJP’s tactics, Sinha said, “If I am called a ‘bohiragato’ (outsider), then what is Modiji in Varanasi? Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal have all been liked by everyone, so I have become an acceptable star. Can Hindustan be divided in this way?”