West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | Former cricketer Shib Shankar Paul, Islamic scholar Mufti Abdul Matin join TMC

Kolkata: Former Bengal cricketer Shib Shankar Paul, Santal academic Tanushree Hansda and Islamic scholar Md Mufti Abdul Matin joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday.

Paul, a former first-class cricketer and fast bowler who represented Bengal, runs the Shib Shankar Paul Cricket Academy in Kolkata, Tufanganj and Cooch Behar, nurturing grassroots talent.

At the joining ceremony, state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, "Shib Shankar Paul is a former cricketer who has made Bengal proud. He now trains young talents."

Bhattacharya highlighted the government's 'Khelashree' scheme, saying that financial assistance has been extended to over 38,000 clubs, 1,300 coaching camps and 34 state-level sports organisations.

Matin, popularly known as Matin Saheb, is associated with 86 madrasas spread across North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Murshidabad.

Hansda, an assistant professor and head of the Bengali department at Heramba Chandra College in Kolkata, has over 15 years of teaching experience.

She has been active in the All India Santali Writers' Association and conducts grassroots work in Bankura, Jhargram and Purulia districts.

"Her success on the soil of West Bengal is a matter of great pride," Bhattacharya said.

The minister said that for the Mamata Banerjee government, empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has remained a top priority.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. Votes polled will be counted on May 4.