The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday released its first list of candidates for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, announcing it will contest 291 out of 294 seats. The remaining three seats in the Darjeeling hills have been left for ally BGPM, led by Anit Thapa, as part of a seat-sharing arrangement.
Focus on Representation
Highlighting diversity in its candidate selection, party leader Abhishek Banerjee said that among the 291 nominees:
- 52 are women
- 95 belong to SC/ST communities
- 47 candidates are from minority groups
The party has sought to project an inclusive approach as it gears up for a high-stakes electoral contest.
Under the leadership of our Hon’ble Chairperson Smt. @MamataOfficial, and the guidance of National General Secretary Shri @abhishekaitc and State President Shri Subrata Bakshi, we are pleased to announce the full list of candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative… pic.twitter.com/KOXzZ29YXz
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 17, 2026
Mamata Banerjee to Contest from Bhabanipur
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will once again contest from Bhabanipur, her current constituency in Kolkata. This sets the stage for a renewed political battle with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who had defeated her in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly elections. Banerjee had later re-entered the Assembly through a bypoll from Bhabanipur.
Key Candidates Across Constituencies
The TMC has fielded several prominent leaders and fresh faces across the state:
- Shashi Panja from Shyampukur
- Soham Chakraborty from Karimpur (Nadia)
- Jyotipriya Mallick from Habra
- Firhad Hakim from Kolkata Port
- Madan Mitra from Kamarhati
- Former journalist Devadeep Purohit from Khardah
- Prabhat Banerjee, son of Kalyan Banerjee, from Uttarpara
- Pavitra Kar from Nandigram
- Kunal Ghosh, contesting his first Assembly election from Beleghata
- Bratya Basu from Dum Dum and Sujit Bose from Bidhannagar
- Narayan Goswami from Ashoknagar
- Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty from Barrackpore
- Chandrima Bhattacharya from Dum Dum North
Notably, cricketer Manoj Tiwari has not been given a ticket this time.
Political Messaging and Attack on BJP
Addressing supporters, Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of repeatedly targeting Bengal. She questioned the Centre’s commitment to democratic values and asserted that the state would respond politically. Expressing confidence in the judiciary, Banerjee also issued a strong electoral appeal, urging voters to back the TMC and “vote for Bengal.”
High-Stakes Electoral Battle Ahead
With candidate selection underway and political rhetoric intensifying, the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections are shaping up to be a closely watched contest. The TMC’s early announcement signals its intent to consolidate support and counter the BJP’s challenge in one of India’s most politically significant states.
