The Bengal unit of the BJP is hoping to pick candidates for the February 27 civic polls from the Trinamul camp, which is mired in a tussle over nominations and is therefore delaying the announcement of its candidate list at a time the beleaguered Left, which drew a blank in the Assembly polls, has come out with its full list of candidates.

The contrast in the approach of the two camps has raised uncomfortable questions for the BJP, which had bagged 77 seats in the Assembly polls.

“The fact is, we need 3,000-odd candidates to contest in all the seats in the 108-odd civic bodies. We are finding it difficult to zero in on candidates as there is not much interest among party workers to contest the polls as party nominees,” a source said.

“The tussle in the Trinamul camp has raised our hopes as we think we will get some disgruntled people from the ruling party, who will be willing to contest as BJP nominees,” the source added.

The Left parties, led by the CPM, have been quick to release their list of candidates.

“That we have been successfully and consistently able to release our lists within 24 hours of the polls being announced has sent out a positive message among our workers as well as the electorate,” a CPM leader said. “It is also proof that the narrative that the politics of Bengal is being dominated by the Trinamul and the BJP and the Left Front doesn’t exist is false,” he added.