Behrampore (PTI): West Bengal Congress president Pranab Mukherjee on Monday filed his nomination papers here today, seeking re-election from Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency in Murshidabad district.

Clad in dhoti-kurta and angavastram, the 74-year-old Congress veteran, who won his first Lok Sabha election from Jangipur in 2004, arrived at the Returning Officer's office at 1.30 pm amidst cheers from hundreds of Congress supporters.

On his way to the RO's office, Mr. Mukherjee, also the External Affairs Minister, was given a rousing reception by enthusiastic party workers. Congress leader of Murshidabad district Adhir Chowdhury accompanied him among others.

Chowdhury also filed his nomination papers at the RO's office seeking re-election from Behrampore parliamentary constituency.

Mr. Mukherjee won his first Lok Sabha election from Jangipur seat when he defeated his nearest CPI(M) rival Abul Hasnat Khan by over 36,860 votes.

This time, the CPI(M) replaced Khan, a former MP, and fielded Mriganka Bhattacharya, chairman of the Jangipur municipality.

Jangipur is a Muslim-dominated cconstituency along the India-Bangladesh border.

Of the seven Assembly segments in Jangipur, Congress controls only one while three are being represented by CPI(M) and two by its Left Front ally RSP. Another costituency Raghunathganj is newly created under the delimitation exercise.

Jangipur goes to polls on May 7 in the second phase of polling along with 16 other Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal.