Kolkata, 25 March (H.S.): The Raniganj Assembly constituency in West Bengal, once known as a “Left bastion”, is set to witness a keen triangular contest in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) all eyeing the prestigious seat.

While the Trinamool Congress faces the challenge of retaining its hold over the constituency, the Left Front is attempting to reclaim its traditional stronghold. At the same time, the BJP is making determined efforts to secure its first-ever victory from the seat and expand its political footprint in the region.

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A Seat With a Strong Left Legacy

The electoral history of Raniganj has been politically significant. Between 1962 and 2021, Left candidates won 13 out of 15 Assembly elections from this constituency. The Trinamool Congress managed to break the Left dominance only in 2011 and again in 2021.

The first major shift came in 2011 when the TMC captured the seat, ending decades of Left control. However, the CPI(M) regained the seat in 2016 before losing it again to the TMC in 2021.

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Changing Political Equations

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress secured victory with 78,164 votes, while the BJP finished a close second with 74,008 votes. The CPI(M) was pushed to the third position with 21,658 votes.

The BJP’s rise to the second position in 2021 significantly altered the political dynamics of the constituency, pushing the Left to third place and turning the seat into a competitive three-cornered contest.

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Prestige Battle for All Parties

In the upcoming elections, the TMC will be under pressure to retain the seat, while the BJP is striving to open its account in the constituency. Meanwhile, the Left Front sees the election as an opportunity to regain lost ground.

Political observers believe that the contest in Raniganj will not just be an electoral battle but also a test of political prestige that could influence the future political trajectory of the region.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh