TMC Releases Full Candidate List; Bhabanipur Set For Key Showdown

CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday announced a comprehensive list of 291 candidates for the upcoming two-phase April elections to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, intensifying the political contest across the state.

The Chief Minister confirmed that she will once again contest from Bhabanipur in south Kolkata. She is set to face Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, setting the stage for a high-profile electoral battle.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Adhikari from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, reinforcing its strategic positioning. This contest marks a renewed rivalry between Banerjee and Adhikari.

In 2021, Adhikari secured victory in Nandigram, while Banerjee later reclaimed political ground by winning the Bhabanipur by-election and retaining her chief ministerial office.

The Trinamool has allocated three constituencies, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong, to its regional ally, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, led by Anit Thapa, who heads the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

In Nandigram, the party nominated Pabitra Kar, a former BJP affiliate and close associate of Adhikari, shortly after his induction into the party.

CM Banerjee expressed confidence in a decisive mandate, projecting victory in at least 226 constituencies. She criticised Narendra Modi, cautioning that electoral sentiment in Bengal would respond strongly to perceived grievances.

In the 2021 elections, Trinamool secured 215 seats, while the BJP won 77. The Left Front and the Indian National Congress failed to register significant gains. This time, both parties will contest independently, reshaping the electoral arithmetic.

The following TMC candidates are listed below:

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