Kolkata, Apr 22: West Bengal is gearing up for the first phase of its 2026 Assembly elections, scheduled for April 23. This crucial stage will see voting across 152 constituencies spread over 16 districts, including Siliguri, Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Raiganj, Balurghat, Malda, Murshidabad, Asansol, Bankura, and Baharampur.

Campaigning for this phase concluded Tuesday, setting the stage for an intense electoral battle. The remaining constituencies will cast their votes on April 29, with results to be declared on May 4.

The contest in West Bengal remains largely bipolar, pitting the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Also read: Dharmendra Pradhan Says Bengal ‘Ready for Change’, Slams TMC’s Politics of Fear

The stakes are high, as the state has historically been a battleground where shifts in voter sentiment can dramatically alter the political landscape.

KEY BATTLES TO WATCH

Nandigram: Suvendu Adhikari vs Pabitra Kar

One of the most closely watched contests is in Nandigram, where BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari faces TMC’s Pabitra Kar.

Adhikari, once a trusted aide of Mamata Banerjee, broke ranks with the TMC in 2020 and joined the BJP. In the 2021 elections, he famously defeated Banerjee in Nandigram, cementing his position as her principal rival. Currently serving as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Adhikari is contesting both Nandigram and Bhabhanipur (Banerjee’s own seat, which votes on April 29).

His challenger, Pabitra Kar, was once a close ally but switched allegiance to the TMC, making this contest a battle of former comrades turned adversaries.

Baharampur: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury vs Subrata Maitra

In Murshidabad’s Baharampur constituency, veteran Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is attempting to reclaim political ground.

Chowdhury, a five-time MP from Baharampur, lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election to TMC’s Yusuf Pathan. This time, he is contesting for the Assembly seat against BJP incumbent Subrata Maitra, who currently holds the constituency.

Asansol Dakshin: Agnimitra Paul vs Tapas Banerjee

The Asansol Dakshin seat will witness a high-profile clash between BJP’s Agnimitra Paul and TMC’s Tapas Banerjee.

Paul, one of the BJP’s most prominent women leaders in Bengal, entered politics in 2019 and defeated TMC’s Saayoni Ghosh in 2021. Her opponent, Tapas Banerjee, is a seasoned TMC leader who represented Asansol Dakshin from 2011 to 2021.

Kharagpur Sadar: Dilip Ghosh vs Pradip Sarkar

Former BJP state president Dilip Ghosh is contesting from Kharagpur Sadar in Paschim Medinipur. Ghosh, a key architect of the BJP’s expansion in Bengal, won the seat in 2016. However, in 2021, BJP’s Hiran Chatterjee narrowly defeated TMC’s Pradeep Sarkar. In 2026, the TMC has once again fielded Pradip Sarkar, who previously won the seat in a 2019 bypoll.

Mathabhanga: Nisith Pramanik vs Sablu Barman

In Cooch Behar’s Mathabhanga (SC) constituency, BJP heavyweight Nisith Pramanik is contesting against TMC’s Sablu Barman.

Pramanik, a former Union Minister and a key BJP face in North Bengal, previously won from Dinhata in 2021 but vacated the seat to retain his Lok Sabha membership. The Left Front has fielded Khagen Chandra Barman, while Congress has nominated Kshitendra Nath Barman, making this a four-cornered contest.

Domkal: Humayun Kabir vs Mostafijur Rahaman

The Domkal constituency in Murshidabad presents a unique contest. Former TMC minister Humayun Kabir, expelled from the party in 2025 after controversial remarks, is contesting under his newly formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party.

Kabir, a former IPS officer, faces CPI(M)’s Mostafijur Rahaman (Rana). The seat was won by TMC’s Jafikul Islam in 2021, but Kabir’s entry adds an unpredictable dimension to the race.

Panihati: Ratna Debnath vs Nirmal Ghosh

In Panihati, North 24 Parganas, BJP has fielded Ratna Debnath, mother of the woman doctor tragically raped and murdered at RG Kar hospital two years ago. Her candidacy has drawn significant attention, symbolizing BJP’s attempt to channel public outrage into electoral gains. She faces TMC veteran Nirmal Ghosh, who has held the seat for most of the past three decades.

THE LARGER PICTURE

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is not just about individual constituencies — it is about momentum. With 152 seats at stake, the outcome will set the tone for the second phase on April 29.

Whether the TMC can maintain its dominance or the BJP can expand its foothold will be determined in the coming days. For Congress and the Left, these elections represent a struggle for survival and relevance in a state where their influence has waned.