The Raiganj assembly constituency in West Bengal is set for a high-stakes three-cornered contest in the 2026 state assembly elections. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded Krishna Kalyani, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Kaushik Chodhury, and the Indian National Congress (INC) has put forward Mohit Sengupta. Several other candidates are also in the fray, making it a crucial battle for all major parties.
Constituency Profile
Raiganj is one of the 294 assembly seats in West Bengal and falls under the Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency. The seat has a mixed demographic profile with a significant minority population. In the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC's Krishna Kalyani won the seat, defeating the BJP's Manas Kumar Ghosh by a margin of over 20,000 votes. However, the 2024 general elections saw a shift in voter sentiment, with the BJP winning the Raiganj Lok Sabha seat, indicating a potential change in the assembly segment.
Key Candidates
- Krishna Kalyani (TMC): The sitting MLA and a prominent face of the party in the region. Kalyani has been focusing on local development issues and has the backing of the state government's welfare schemes.
- Kaushik Chodhury (BJP): A former TMC leader who switched to the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections. His defection has added a new dimension to the contest, as he brings with him a chunk of his personal vote bank.
- Mohit Sengupta (Congress): A seasoned Congress leader who has been active in the area for years. The Congress is hoping to regain its lost ground in the region, with Sengupta as its standard-bearer.
Campaign Issues
The campaign in Raiganj has revolved around local issues such as infrastructure development, employment, and agricultural distress. The TMC is highlighting its track record in the state, including the implementation of schemes like 'Kanyashree' and 'Rupashree'. The BJP, on the other hand, is focusing on corruption allegations against the TMC government and promising better governance. The Congress is trying to project itself as a credible alternative, stressing on national issues like price rise and unemployment.
Voter turnout is expected to be high, with all parties leaving no stone unturned to woo the electorate. The outcome of this seat will be closely watched as it could set the tone for the overall election results in the region.
