Kolkata, March 17: The announcement of election dates in West Bengal has set the political landscape abuzz. Unlike the previous elections held in eight phases, this time voting will occur in just two phases on April 23 and 29. Political parties are gearing up for the challenge, particularly in the Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency, which comprises seven assembly seats.
Currently, Kolkata South is a stronghold for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with significant influence across all seven assembly seats: Kasba, Behala East, Behala West, Kolkata Port, Bhawanipur, Rasbehari, and Ballygunge.
Kasba, categorized as a general assembly seat, is located in the South 24 Parganas district and has historically favored the TMC. The incumbent MLA, Javed Ahmed Khan, has won the seat in the last three assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the primary challenger to the TMC in this area.
Behala East, another general category assembly seat under Kolkata South, has been a TMC bastion since the party’s inception in 2001. In the 2021 elections, TMC’s Ratna Chatterjee defeated BJP’s Payal Sarkar by a margin of 37,428 votes, maintaining the party’s dominance. However, the increasing vote share of the BJP poses a growing concern for the ruling party.
Behala West has also remained a stronghold for the TMC, with Partha Chatterjee winning the seat for the third consecutive time in 2011. Despite the BJP emerging as a significant contender in the 2019 elections, the TMC has managed to retain its influence. The party’s primary concern now is to find a capable successor for Chatterjee, who has been a five-time MLA.
The Kolkata Port assembly seat has been under TMC’s control since 2011, with Firhad Hakim as the candidate. Hakim, a former cabinet minister, has successfully defended his seat against BJP’s Avadh Kishore Gupta in the last two elections. The TMC is focused on maintaining its dominance here in the upcoming elections.
Bhawanipur, known as the home constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been a TMC stronghold since 2011. Banerjee has consistently won both by-elections and regular elections, receiving substantial support from voters. Although the BJP occasionally poses a challenge, a significant portion of the electorate remains loyal to Banerjee. If she contests again, her chances of retaining the seat appear strong.
Rasbehari, situated in the heart of Kolkata, has been a TMC seat since winning it in a by-election in 1998. In the 2021 elections, TMC’s Debashish Kumar defeated BJP’s Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Subhrat Saha by 21,414 votes. However, the BJP has been strengthening its position in this area, posing a challenge for the TMC in the upcoming elections.
Ballygunge, one of Kolkata’s most affluent areas, has seen TMC dominance since 2006. Subrata Mukherjee won the seat three times consecutively from 2011 to 2021. After his passing in 2022, TMC fielded Babul Supriyo, who retained the seat against CPI(M)’s Sayara Shah Halim. The TMC continues to hold a strong position here, while the BJP and the Left-Congress alliance have yet to pose a significant challenge.
As the 2026 assembly elections approach, the TMC appears to be in a strong position across these constituencies, while the BJP and other opposition parties are still working to establish a foothold.