The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of 144 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled to take place in April 2026. Among the notable candidates is Suvendu Adhikari, the current Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, who will contest from Nandigram, a seat he won against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 elections. Additionally, Adhikari is set to run in Bhabanipur, the constituency currently held by Banerjee.

Election Timeline and Voting Details

The elections in West Bengal will occur in two phases, with voting taking place on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for both phases is scheduled for May 4, marking what is expected to be a highly competitive election between the BJP and the reigning Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Candidate Profiles and Competitions

In this initial candidate list, noted figures include BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who will contest from Asansol Dakshin, and actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh, who aims to represent Shibpur. Another candidate, Bankim Chandra Ghosh, is set to compete from Chakdaha. The BJP, which has set ambitious goals in the state, is anticipated to soon announce additional candidates to fill out the remaining positions.

Electoral Process and Voter Information

According to the Election Commission of India, the first phase will encompass 152 Assembly constituencies. The issuance of the gazette notification for this phase will take place on March 30, 2026. Candidates will have until April 6 to file their nominations, following which the scrutiny of these nominations is scheduled for April 7. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until April 9. Voting in this phase will occur on April 23.

The second phase of the elections, covering 142 Assembly constituencies, will see its gazette notification released on April 2, 2026. The final date for submitting nominations in this phase is April 9, with scrutiny slated for April 10. Candidates will have until April 13 to withdraw their nominations. Voting for this phase is set for April 29.

Demographics of the Electorate

West Bengal’s electorate comprises a total of 6,45,61,152 registered voters. This includes 6,44,52,609 general voters and 1,08,543 service voters. Among these, there are 5,23,229 young electors aged 18-19 years. Additionally, the electoral rolls indicate that there are 4,16,089 voters categorized as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), 1,152 individuals identified as third gender, and 3,78,979 senior citizens who are aged 85 and older.

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