Suvendu Adhikari, who was a right-hand man of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at one point in time and recently switched to BJP, will take on the Trinamool Congress supremo in Nandigram, making it a hot contest in the upcoming state elections.

BJP on Saturday announced the list of 57 candidates for the first two phases. “Suvendu Adhikari to contest against Mamata Banerjee for Nandigram seat,” said BJP General Secretary Arun Singh.

The development came a day after Mamata Banerjee said she will contest from Nandigram and vacate her existing seat of Bhowanipore in Kolkata.

"I will be contesting from Nandigram, my party colleague Sovandeb Chattopadhyay will be contesting from Bhawanipore seat," Mamata Banerjee said on Friday.

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The BJP announcement has made the Nandigram the most important contest. The TMC chief has taken the fight straight to BJP doors after declaring herself as the candidate from Nandigram as a symbolic gesture.

The West Bengal assembly elections will take place in eight phases starting from March 27. Results will be declared on May 2.

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