Trinamul on Saturday nominated former Goa chief minister Luizinho Falerio as its candidate for Rajya Sabha polls scheduled on November 29 and appointed its Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra as its party’s Goa unit in charge, both with an eye on the Assembly polls to the western state.

Falerio will file his nomination next Tuesday for the seat vacated by Trinamul leader Arpita Ghosh. He is currently a vice-president of the party.
“We are extremely pleased to nominate Luizinho Falerio to the Upper House of the Parliament... the party tweeted at 11:33 am on Saturday.

A press statement signed by Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee read: “Hon’ble Chairperson Smt. Mamata Banerjee looks forward to a brighter future for Goa, with All India Trinamul Congress paving the way with courage and wisdom.... The Hon’ble Chairperson is pleased to appoint Smt. Mahua Moitra, (Hon’ble MP, Krishnanagar Lok Sabha) as the State in-charge of AITC Goa unit with immediate effect.”

Trinamul had earlier nominated Susmita Dev to a vacant seat in the upper house. Dev, a former Congress MP from the Silchar Assembly segment, won the polls.

She is one of Mamata’s most important foot soldiers in Tripura.

Goa and Tripura are the two states being eyed by Trinamul after it crushed the BJP in the Bengal Assembly polls.

Falerio, in Calcutta on Saturday to discuss the party’s future in the coastal state, tweeted his thanks to the party for his nomination.