Congress Unveils 284 Candidates for 2026 Bengal Assembly Elections, Ending Three-Decade Alliance Era
In a significant political development, the Congress party on Sunday announced its candidates for 284 seats in the upcoming Bengal assembly polls, scheduled for 2026. This move marks the first time in three decades that Congress will contest the state elections independently, without any alliance partners.
High-Profile Nominations and Strategic Decisions
The list of candidates features several prominent names, including former leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has been fielded from the Behrampore constituency. Additionally, former Malda North MP Mausam Benazir Noor will contest from Malatipur in Malda district. Noor, who rejoined Congress in January after a brief stint with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), is the niece of former railway minister ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury.
The party's central election committee, comprising president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and party secretary K C Venugopal, held a crucial meeting with key state functionaries. This included Bengal in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Pradesh Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, before finalizing the candidate list.
Overwhelming Response and Future Announcements
Congress sources revealed that the party received an overwhelming response, with more than 2,500 applications submitted for the 294 assembly seats. A senior functionary stated, "We will announce the nominees for the remaining 10 seats soon," while hinting that several prominent political figures are expected to join the party in the coming days.
This decision to contest alone follows the Congress high command's declaration last month to field candidates in all 294 seats. In the 2021 assembly elections, Congress secured a mere 3% of the votes, while its alliance partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, garnered 4.7%. During the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress improved slightly, achieving 4.7% of the vote share and winning one seat—Malda South.
Strategic Focus and Key Contests
Despite CPM's higher vote share in the 2024 polls, Congress has opted to go solo in 2026, aiming to rebuild its presence from scratch. The party is strategically focusing on regions such as Murshidabad, Malda, and North Dinajpur. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who last contested an assembly election in 1996, has been entrusted with leading this revival effort.
Other notable candidates include:
- Nepal Mahato from Baghmundi
- Mohit Sengupta from Raiganj
- Ali Imran Ramz (Victor) from Chakulia
- Pradip Prasad, who will face Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Bhowanipore
- Rohan Mitra, son of former Pradesh Congress president Somen Mitra, from Ballygunge
- Amal Acharya, former TMC MLA, from Itahar
Mausam Benazir Noor's candidacy is particularly noteworthy, as she had previously joined TMC in 2019 after Congress leadership rejected her proposal for an alliance with Mamata Banerjee's party. Her return to Congress underscores the party's efforts to strengthen its base in key districts.
Historical Context and Electoral Challenges
The 2026 elections represent a pivotal moment for Congress in Bengal, as it seeks to reclaim its political relevance after years of declining influence. By contesting alone, the party hopes to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments and present itself as a viable alternative to the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP.
With the candidate announcements now in place, Congress is gearing up for an intense campaign, focusing on grassroots mobilization and addressing local issues. The party's performance in these elections will be closely watched, as it could signal a potential resurgence or further consolidation of the bipolar politics dominated by TMC and BJP.
