Congress Releases First Candidate List for West Bengal Assembly Election 2026

Kolkata / New Delhi, March 2026:

The has officially announced its first list of 284 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, marking a significant early move in the state’s political battleground.



The announcement was finalized during a high-level meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee in New Delhi, signaling Congress’s intent to contest the election aggressively and independently across the state.



Key Highlights



- Congress has declared candidates for 284 out of 294 seats, leaving only a handful pending.

- The party is expected to contest solo, without forming any major alliance in the state.

- The list reflects a blend of experienced leaders and emerging faces, aiming to strengthen grassroots connectivity.



Prominent Candidates



Among the most notable names in the list is senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury , who will contest from the politically significant Baharampur constituency.

Other key candidates include:


-Mausam Benazir Noor- — Malatipur

- Madhap Rai — Darjeeling

- Abdul Hannan — Sujapur

- Susmita Biswas — Dum Dum

- Gautam Bhattacharya — Diamond Harbour

- Souvik Mukherjee — Asansol Dakshin

- Prasenjit Puitandi — Asansol Uttar


Focus on Urban Battlegrounds


The party has also fielded candidates in crucial urban constituencies, including:


- Pradip Prasad — Bhabanipur

- S K Jariatul Hossain — Nandigram

- Shubhashish Bhattacharya — Panihati

- Ranajit Mukherjee — Bidhannagar


Election Schedule


The West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 will be conducted in two phases:


- Phase 1: April 23

- Phase 2: April 29

- Counting of votes: May 4


Strategic Outlook


Political observers note that Congress’s early and expansive candidate announcement indicates a renewed strategy to reclaim its presence in West Bengal politics. By combining veteran leadership with new entrants, the party aims to rebuild its organizational strength and voter base across districts.


As campaigning intensifies, all eyes will be on how Congress positions itself against dominant regional and national players in what is expected to be a high-stakes electoral contest.