In West Bengal's Cooch Behar Dakshin constituency, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Rathindra Bose emerged victorious, securing 1,08,482 votes. He defeated his nearest rival, Avijit De Bhowmick of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), by a margin of 23,284 votes. Bhowmick garnered 85,198 votes in the general (unreserved) seat located in the Cooch Behar district.
Key Candidates in 2026
The 2026 election saw three main contenders: Avijit De Bhowmick (also known as Hippy) from the Trinamool Congress, Rathindra Bose from the BJP, and Khokan Mian representing the Congress party.
Historical Context
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the constituency was won by Nikhil Ranjan Dey of the BJP, who defeated his nearest TMC rival by a margin of 28,237 votes. That victory was considered a significant gain for the BJP in the district, contributing to its strong performance across several north Bengal constituencies during that election cycle.
Constituency Profile
Cooch Behar Dakshin features a mixed voter base comprising urban, semi-urban, and rural populations. Key issues revolve around infrastructure development, employment opportunities, and civic amenities. Road conditions, traffic management, and urban infrastructure are recurring concerns in populated areas, while rural pockets often highlight demands related to irrigation, flood control, and agricultural support. Employment generation remains a prominent issue, particularly for young voters seeking stable jobs within the region.
Voter Turnout
The constituency went to polls on April 23 as part of Phase 1. Cooch Behar district recorded a voter turnout of 96.2%, the highest among all districts in that phase.
Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry elections on Times of India.
