Next West Bengal Legislative Assembly election

Next West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election

By March–April 2026
All 294 elected seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly 148 seats needed for a majority
Leader Mamata Banerjee Suvendu Adhikari Party AITC BJP Leader since 1998 2020 Leader's seat Bhabanipur Nandigram Last election 44.91%, 215 seats 38.15%, 77 seats Current seats 221 66 Seats needed 82   Comrade Md Salim, Indian Communist leader.jpg Leader Mohammed Salim Subhankar Sarkar Party CPI(M) INC Alliance Left Leader since 2022 2022 Leader's seat TBA TBA Last election 5.67%, 0 seat 4.73%, 0 seat Current seats 0 0 Seats needed 148 148
Map of the assembly constituencies in West Bengal
Incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee AITC

The Next West Bengal legislative assembly election is expected to be held in March–April 2026 to elect all 294 members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Mamata Banerjee is the incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Schedule

Poll Event	Schedule
Notification Date	TBD
Last Date for filing nomination	TBD
Scrutiny of nomination	TBD
Last Date for Withdrawal of nomination	TBD
Date of Poll	TBD
Date of Counting of Votes	TBD

Parties and Alliances

  All India Trinamool Congress

Party		Flag	Symbol	Photo	Leader	Seats contested
	All India Trinamool Congress				Mamata Banerjee	TBD

  Secular Democratic Alliance

Party		Flag	Symbol	Photo	Leader	Seats contested
	Communist Party of India (Marxist)				Mohammed Salim	TBD
	Indian National Congress				Subhankar Sarkar	TBD
	Indian Secular Front				Abbas Siddiqui	TBD
	All India Forward Bloc				TBD	TBD
	Revolutionary Socialist Party				TBD	TBD
	Communist Party of India				TBD	TBD
	Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation				Dipankar Bhattacharya	TBD
	Hamro Party				TBD	TBD

  Bharatiya Janata Party

Party		Flag	Symbol	Photo	Leader	Seats contested
	Bharatiya Janata Party				Suvendu Adhikari	TBD

Others

Party		Flag	Symbol	Photo	Leader	Seats contested
	Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)				Provash Ghosh	TBD

Issues

Partha Chatterjee Arrest and Teacher Recruitment Scam: In July 2022, Partha Chatterjee, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and then West Bengal Minister of Industries, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a multi-crore teacher recruitment scam. The scam revolved around irregularities in the hiring of teachers and non-teaching staff in government schools between 2014 and 2021, during Chatterjee’s tenure as Education Minister. The investigation revealed that jobs were allegedly sold in exchange for bribes, depriving deserving candidates of their rightful positions.

Chatterjee's arrest shocked the political landscape, as he was considered a close aide to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The ED also arrested Arpita Mukherjee, an associate of Chatterjee, and seized large amounts of cash (reportedly over ₹50 crore) from her properties, further fueling the controversy.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used the arrest to attack the TMC, accusing the party of systemic corruption. Under pressure, the TMC distanced itself from Chatterjee, removing him from ministerial posts and party positions. This high-profile arrest tarnished the TMC’s image and sparked widespread protests across the state, making it one of the biggest political scandals in West Bengal in 2022. The case continues to be a major focus of investigations.

Civic Polls and Allegations of Rigging: In 2022, the civic polls in West Bengal, particularly in Kolkata, were marred by widespread allegations of rigging, voter intimidation, and violence. The elections, which were crucial for both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saw heightened political tensions. Opposition parties, including the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Congress, accused the TMC of manipulating the election process by deploying muscle power, capturing booths, and intimidating voters.

Violence was reported from several wards, with clashes between rival party workers, and there were claims of ballot box tampering. The opposition also raised concerns about the role of the State Election Commission, alleging its failure to ensure free and fair elections. Despite these accusations, the TMC registered sweeping victories across many municipalities, including Kolkata, cementing its dominance in local governance.

The BJP and other opposition parties staged protests against the alleged irregularities, demanding re-elections in several wards. However, the TMC leadership dismissed these claims, stating that the opposition’s accusations were baseless and a reflection of their inability to win electoral support. The controversy surrounding the civic polls added to the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal.

Birbhum Violence: In March 2022, West Bengal's Birbhum district witnessed a gruesome incident of violence that shocked the nation. Following the murder of Bhadu Sheikh, a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, on March 21, eight people were killed in an act of retaliation in the Rampurhat area. The victims, including women and children, were locked inside their homes, which were set ablaze, resulting in their horrific deaths.

This mass killing led to widespread outrage, with political parties blaming each other for the deteriorating law and order situation. The opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accused the TMC of fostering a culture of political violence in the state. The BJP demanded President’s Rule in West Bengal, citing this incident as a stark example of the state's inability to maintain peace.

In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the violence and ordered a special investigation. Several arrests were made, including local TMC members accused of orchestrating the attack. The incident not only highlighted the deep political divisions in the state but also brought attention to the recurring issue of retaliatory violence in West Bengal's rural areas, adding to the state's troubled political climate.

Cattle smuggling case: The cattle smuggling case in West Bengal involves the illegal transportation of cattle from India to Bangladesh. This racket has been active along the Indo-Bangladesh border, particularly in districts like Murshidabad and Malda. The cattle, sourced from states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, are smuggled through West Bengal, fetching high prices in Bangladesh.

Key figures in this case include Anubrata Mondal, a prominent Trinamool Congress leader, and several Border Security Force (BSF) officials. Mondal and his associates are accused of facilitating the smuggling operations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have been actively investigating the case, leading to multiple arrests, including that of a former BSF commandant.

Recently, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Sehgal Hossain, Mondal's bodyguard, amidst ongoing investigations. The Supreme Court also granted bail to Mondal in related cases. The case highlights the deep-rooted corruption and the challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing such illegal activities.

This case has significant political implications in West Bengal, drawing attention to the nexus between politicians and illegal trade networks. It underscores the need for stringent measures to secure borders and prevent smuggling activities.

2023 Panchayat Polls : The 2023 panchayat elections in West Bengal were notably marked by widespread violence, resulting in over 40 deaths. This violence underscored the persistent issues with law and order during elections in the state. The clashes were reported across various districts, with incidents of ballot box snatching, booth capturing, and attacks on candidates and voters. The violence was not limited to election day; it began during the nomination process and continued through the counting of votes.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front, accused each other of instigating the violence. The TMC was particularly criticized for allegedly using muscle power to intimidate opposition candidates and supporters. The opposition claimed that many of their candidates were prevented from filing nominations due to threats and physical assaults.

The Calcutta High Court intervened, ordering the deployment of central forces to ensure a free and fair election. Despite these measures, the violence persisted, raising questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements. The election violence in 2023 highlighted the deep-rooted political rivalries and the challenges of conducting peaceful elections in West Bengal. This incident remains a significant blot on the state's democratic process.

Akhil Giri : Akhil Giri, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister, has faced significant backlash for his misogynistic remarks. Recently, he verbally abused a female forest officer, Manisha Shaw, during an anti-encroachment drive. This incident led to his resignation after the TMC demanded accountability. Giri's behavior is not an isolated case; he previously made derogatory comments about President Droupadi Murmu.

While the party has taken steps to address such issues, including demanding resignations and public apologies, critics argue that these actions are often reactive rather than proactive. The party's response to Giri's actions, for instance, came only after public outrage and media coverage.

Narada and Saradha Scams (Ongoing Developments): The Narada sting operation and Saradha chit fund scam have remained prominent political issues in West Bengal, with ongoing investigations and legal developments affecting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The Narada sting case emerged in 2016 when videos surfaced showing several TMC leaders allegedly accepting cash bribes from a journalist posing as a businessman. The sting operation was conducted in 2014, but its release just before the 2016 state elections caused a political uproar. Several senior TMC leaders, including MPs and ministers, were implicated. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) continue to investigate the case, with periodic questioning and arrests of key figures.

The Saradha chit fund scam broke out in 2013, where the Saradha Group was accused of running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors, particularly in Bengal. The scam led to the financial ruin of many, and some TMC leaders were alleged to have had connections with the group. The CBI has arrested and questioned several TMC members over the years.

These cases have kept the TMC under scrutiny, with opposition parties accusing it of widespread corruption. The state government, however, calls these investigations politically motivated by the BJP-led central government.