Kolkata, 25 March (H.S.) : The Narayangarh Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district is witnessing heightened political activity ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, with both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensifying their campaigns amid internal challenges.

The TMC’s decision to field Pratibharani Maity, the Sabhadhipati (chairperson) of the West Midnapore Zilla Parishad, instead of sitting MLA Suryakanta Atta has triggered political discussions in the constituency. Atta, who had won the seat in 2021 by a narrow margin, is reportedly not actively involved in the campaign so far, leading to concerns within sections of the party about organisational unity.

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TMC Attempts Damage Control

Pratibharani Maity has sought to downplay speculation of internal discord, claiming she has held meetings with senior leaders and party workers to ensure coordinated campaigning.

She also recently visited Suryakanta Atta at his residence and sought his support, highlighting his long political experience and influence in the constituency. According to her, Atta has assured cooperation for the party’s campaign.

However, Atta has expressed disappointment over the denial of a party ticket despite his groundwork ahead of the elections. While maintaining that he would offer advice if needed, he also indicated concerns about how his perceived political image might impact the campaign.

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Historical Political Background

Narayangarh has a significant political history. CPI(M) leader Suryakanta Mishra had represented the constituency five consecutive times and remained a dominant political figure even after the TMC came to power in the state in 2011. He retained the seat that year and was again fielded in 2016 despite being the state secretary of the CPI(M). However, he lost to TMC candidate Pradyot Ghosh, marking a turning point in the constituency’s political landscape.

The BJP began strengthening its presence in the constituency after 2016. In the 2021 Assembly elections, TMC’s Suryakanta Atta defeated BJP candidate Ramaprasad Giri by a margin of just 2,421 votes.

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BJP Retains Candidate Despite Internal Differences

The BJP has once again fielded Ramaprasad Giri from the seat, although reports of internal dissent have surfaced, with some party workers reportedly expressing reservations over his candidature. There have also been reports of protests by a section of party supporters.

Giri, however, has dismissed the dissent as minor and expressed confidence about his electoral prospects, claiming strong public support during his campaign. He also suggested that internal differences within the TMC could work to the BJP’s advantage.

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Changing Electoral Dynamics

The BJP’s vote share in Narayangarh has grown significantly over the years. From securing just 5,345 votes in 2011, the party increased its tally to 10,262 votes in 2016 and made a major jump in 2021 with 98,473 votes. In comparison, the TMC secured 100,894 votes, while the CPI(M) was pushed to third place with 13,229 votes.

With all three major political forces trying to consolidate their support bases, Narayangarh is shaping up to be a closely watched contest in the upcoming elections.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh