Kolkata's 2026 Assembly Elections: Major Parties Bet on Veteran Leaders Amid Voter Roll Uncertainty
As the 2026 assembly elections in West Bengal approach, political parties in Kolkata are placing their trust in seasoned, reliable leaders to navigate the challenges posed by significant voter roll revisions. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Left Front have unveiled their candidate lists for key constituencies within the city, including Jorasanko, Rashbehari, Chowringhee, Cossipore-Belgachia, and Kolkata Port, among others. This strategic move comes amid widespread uncertainty and deletions from the Summary Revision of Rolls (SIR), which has drastically altered the electoral landscape.
Voter Roll Deletions Reshape Constituencies
The SIR process has led to substantial reductions in voter bases across multiple assembly seats in Kolkata, forcing parties to recalibrate their strategies. TMC announced all its candidates on Tuesday, while BJP has revealed three and the Left Front seventeen for city constituencies. The reliance on trusted old hands is particularly evident in Jorasanko, where the SIR has removed 35% of its 1.9 lakh voters, totaling 66,491 deletions—the highest in the city.
In Jorasanko, TMC has fielded Vijay Upadhayay as its MLA candidate, marking his first assembly election fight. However, his political roots with TMC run deep, as he serves as the KMC councillor for ward 20 (Muktaram Babu Street). Upadhayay remains undeterred by the voter deletions, asserting that the harassment caused by the SIR will drive people to vote against BJP. He replaces Vivek Gupta, with the Left Front nominating Bharat Ram Tiwari and BJP yet to announce a candidate.
Key Constituencies and Candidate Announcements
Chowringhee is the second worst-affected constituency, with a 32% reduction in its 1.9 lakh voter base, resulting in 62,695 deletions. TMC has nominated Nayna Bandopadhyay, who previously won the seat in 2021 with 70,101 votes and a 40.7% vote share. The Left Front has put forward Sanjoy Basu, while BJP has not yet revealed its candidate.
Other constituencies witnessing over 20% voter deletions include Cossipore-Belgachia, Ballygunge, Bidhannagar, Shyampukur, Kolkata Port, Manicktala, and Rashbehari. Even areas with comparatively lower deletions, such as Rajarhat-New Town, Tollygunge, Jadavpur, and Bhawanipore, will see over 40,000 fewer voters on their rolls.
Experienced Leaders Express Confidence Amid Challenges
Prominent TMC candidates like Atin Ghosh from Cossipore-Belgachia and Debabrata Majumdar from Jadavpur have downplayed concerns over voter deletions, focusing instead on the names under adjudication—4,000 in Cossipore-Belgachia and 5,000 in Jadavpur. Ghosh, a seasoned KMC neta and MLA since May 2021, has served as deputy mayor since 2018. Majumdar, who won Jadavpur in 2021, has overseen KMC's SWM department since 2010. He faces competition from Left Front veteran Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a senior advocate and outgoing Rajya Sabha MP who served as mayor from 2005 to 2010.
In Maniktala, where 50,589 names were deleted, TMC has nominated Sreya Pande, daughter of Sadhan Pande and Supti Pande. Sadhan Pande previously won the seat in 2021. Sreya Pande has demanded that no voter's name be deleted, calling on the Election Commission to ensure a fair poll by thoroughly reviewing each mapped person from 2002 currently under adjudication.
For Entally, which saw 46,424 voter deletions, TMC has fielded Sandipan Saha, making his debut in assembly polls. This emphasis on experienced or well-connected candidates underscores the parties' strategy to leverage local influence and voter trust in the face of electoral uncertainties.
The 2026 assembly elections in Kolkata are shaping up to be a test of resilience for political parties, as they navigate the complexities of revised voter rolls while banking on the credibility of established leaders to secure victories in key constituencies.
