Kolkata, March 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accelerated its campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections by releasing its second list of 111 candidates on Thursday, March 19. This follows the first list of 144 names announced earlier this week, bringing the partyтАЩs total confirmed candidates to 255 for the 294-seat assembly. In a high-stakes move, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has been fielded from two constituencies: his stronghold of Nandigram and Bhabanipur, where he is set to directly challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Election Commission has scheduled the West Bengal polls to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes set for May 4.┬аSuvendu Adhikari To Contest From Bhabanipur As BJP Releases First List of 144 Candidates for West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, Check Full List.

BJP Releases Second List of Candidates┬аfor West Bengal Assembly Polls

Key Candidates and Strategic Shifts

The second list features several prominent faces and tactical reassignments. Notably, former Union Minister of State Nisith Pramanik will contest from the Mathabhanga (SC) seat, while veteran leader and actor Roopa Ganguly has been nominated for Sonarpur Dakshin.┬аWest Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: BJP, CPI(M) and Congress Push for Shorter 1тАУ2 Phase Polling Schedule; TMC Refrains From Phase Demands.

In the first list, the party focused on consolidating its core leadership. Dilip Ghosh, the former State President, returns to his home turf of Kharagpur Sadar. Other significant nominations include former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta from Rashbehari and Agnimitra Paul, who will defend her seat in Asansol Dakshin. The party has also renominated 41 sitting MLAs, signaling a preference for incumbency in key battlegrounds.

The Battle for Bhabanipur

The decision to field Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur is the central talking point of the BJPтАЩs strategy. Adhikari, who famously defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 elections, stated he is confident of a "repeat performance."

Bhabanipur is traditionally considered a Trinamool Congress (TMC) bastion, and the Chief Minister returned to the assembly from this seat via a 2021 by-poll with a margin of over 58,000 votes. By fielding Adhikari here, the BJP aims to pin the TMCтАЩs top leadership to a localized fight in south Kolkata.

Demographics and Representation

The BJPтАЩs candidate selection reflects an effort to balance experience with new blood. According to party spokespersons:

  • Youth Representation: 36 candidates are under the age of 40.

  • Gender: The first list included 11 women, while the second list added several more, including high-profile names like Rekha Patra from Hingalganj.

  • Reserved Seats: The party has placed heavy emphasis on SC/ST candidates in North Bengal and the Junglemahal region, areas where they performed strongly in previous cycles.

Notably, the initial lists do not feature any Muslim candidates, a move that aligns with the party's traditional polarization strategy focused on consolidating the Hindu vote share.

Background: A Two-Phase Contest

The 2026 elections are being held in significantly fewer phases compared to the eight-phase marathon of 2021. This change has been met with mixed reactions; while the BJP welcomes the streamlined process, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the Election Commission for the recent transfer of over 50 senior state officials, calling it "political interference."

As the TMC has already released its full list of 291 candidates, the stage is now set for a direct, two-way contest between the incumbent ruling party and a resurgent BJP looking to bridge the gap from its 77-seat finish in the last assembly.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2026 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).