Suvendu vs Mamata in Bhabanipur: BJP releases first list of 144 candidates for West Bengal polls | Check details

Suvendu Adhikari

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday unveiled its first slate of nominees for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, naming 144 candidates for the 294-seat House that will vote later next month.

Among the prominent announcements, former BJP Lok Sabha member Suvendu Adhikari has been nominated from Bhabanipur in Kolkata, a constituency presently represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Adhikari will also defend his sitting seat of Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district during the election.

According to the party’s list, Dilip Ghosh will enter the fray from Kharagpur Sadar in Paschim Medinipur, while Biman Mahto has been chosen for Salboni in the same district. Political commentator Swapan Dasgupta has been fielded from the Rasbehari constituency in south Kolkata.

In Hooghly district, the BJP has nominated Biman Ghosh from Pursurah. Sumita Sinha will represent the party from Kanthi Uttar in Purba Medinipur district.

The list also names Madhavi Mahalder as the party’s candidate from Kultali in South 24 Parganas district. In Nadia district, Anima Datta will contest from the Palashipara seat, while Lakshikant Sahu has been fielded from Jhargram.

Agni Mitra Paul has been nominated again from South Asansol, the seat she currently represents.

BJP announces first list of 144 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections pic.twitter.com/QHLfHAUNFF

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2026

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had secured the Bhabanipur seat in the 2021 by-election, a victory that enabled her to continue as the chief minister after losing the Nandigram contest to Suvendu Adhikari in the assembly election earlier that year.

Polling for the West Bengal Assembly’s 294 constituencies will be conducted in two phases — April 23 and April 29 — while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.