In West Bengal's Natabari constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Girija Shankar Ray emerged victorious, defeating Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Sailen Barma by a margin of 34,613 votes. Ray secured a total of 1,26,911 votes, while Barma received 92,298 votes.
Constituency Details
Natabari is a general (unreserved) constituency located in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. The constituency went to polls on April 23 as part of Phase 1 of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Cooch Behar district recorded a voter turnout of 96.2%, the highest among all districts in that phase.
Candidates in 2026
The key candidates in the 2026 Natabari election included Sailen Barma of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Girija Shankar Ray of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Biswajit Sarkar of the Indian National Congress.
Previous Election Results
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Natabari seat was won by Mihir Goswami of the BJP, who defeated his nearest TMC rival by a margin of 36,694 votes. Goswami's victory was considered significant, as he had previously been associated with the TMC before switching to the BJP ahead of the elections. His win reflected both personal political dynamics and the BJP's strengthened presence in parts of Cooch Behar district.
Local Economy and Key Issues
The Natabari constituency is predominantly rural, with agriculture forming the backbone of the local economy. Paddy cultivation, small-scale farming, and allied activities such as livestock rearing play a central role in shaping livelihoods. Key issues largely revolve around rural development and economic stability, with agricultural challenges including irrigation facilities, crop prices, and vulnerability to floods remaining central concerns for residents.
For full coverage of the 2026 election results, including live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends, and detailed analysis for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, follow Times of India.
