Source The telegraph India
KOLKATA — Strengthening its “Maa, Maati, Manush” credentials, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday officially released its candidate list for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the TMC will contest 291 out of 294 seats, leaving the remaining three in the Darjeeling hills to its ally, the Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM).
The announcement, made from Banerjee’s Kalighat residence alongside National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, signals a strategic overhaul. The party has dropped 74 sitting MLAs in a clear move to blunt anti-incumbency and introduce fresh faces across the state.
Key Highlights of the TMC List
The 2026 lineup emphasizes social representation, with Abhishek Banerjee noting that the party has prioritized women, minorities, and backward classes:
Women Candidates: 52
SC/ST Candidates: 95
Minority Candidates: 47
Incumbents: 135 sitting MLAs retained; 15 shifted to new constituencies.
High-Stakes Battles
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will once again defend her stronghold of Bhabanipur. In a move that sets the stage for the election’s most watched contest, the BJP has reportedly fielded Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against her in Bhabanipur, while Adhikari also remains a candidate for his home turf, Nandigram.
Other notable candidatures include:
Firhad Hakim: Kolkata Port
Aroop Biswas: Tollyganj
Dr. Shashi Panja: Shyampukur
Madan Mitra: Kamarhati
Kunal Ghosh: Making his Assembly debut from Beleghata
The Road to May 4
The Election Commission has scheduled the West Bengal polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026. This reduction from the eight-phase marathon of 2021 is expected to intensify the campaign trail over the coming weeks.
As the TMC seeks a fourth consecutive term, the focus remains on its flagship welfare schemes, such as Lakshmir Bhandar, to counter the BJP’s aggressive push centered on anti-corruption and national security.
