Kolkata, March 17: The West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 race has intensified as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) unveiled its complete list of candidates, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set to contest from Bhabanipur. The announcement sets up a high-profile clash with Suvendu Adhikari, making it one of the most closely watched battles in the state.

Banerjee confirmed that the TMC will field candidates in 291 out of 294 seats, while three Darjeeling hill constituencies have been allocated to ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha. Addressing a press conference, she expressed confidence of winning over 226 seats, signaling a strong push for another term. Suvendu Adhikari To Contest From Bhabanipur As BJP Releases First List of 144 Candidates for West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, Check Full List.

TMC Candidate List for 2026 Polls

Bhabanipur and Nandigram Battles

The Bhabanipur contest is expected to be a major highlight, as Banerjee faces Adhikari, who previously defeated her in Nandigram in 2021. This time, the BJP leader is contesting from both Bhabanipur and Nandigram. Meanwhile, TMC has fielded Pabitra Kar in Nandigram, adding a new dimension to the rivalry.

Mix of Experience and New Faces

The candidate list reflects a blend of seasoned leaders and fresh entrants, including Udayan Guha, Gautam Deb, Arpita Ghosh, and former IPS officer Humayun Kabir. The party has also dropped several sitting MLAs to bring in new leadership while maintaining organizational balance. Varun Gandhi Meets PM Narendra Modi With Family, Calls Him ‘True Guardian’ of Nation (See Pic).

Tensions With Election Commission

Banerjee criticized the Election Commission of India, alleging bias in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially over the transfer of senior police officials ahead of elections.

Election Schedule

Polling will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results to be declared on May 4, 2026. With campaigning underway, the state is gearing up for a fiercely contested political showdown.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2026 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).