The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday released its second list of 111 candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, signalling an aggressive strategy with a mix of prominent leaders and fresh faces.

Big Names in the Fray

Among the key candidates, former MP Arjun Singh has been fielded from Noapara, while former Rajya Sabha MP and actress Roopa Ganguly will contest from Sonarpur South. The party has also given a ticket to Dibyendu Adhikari from Egra, adding a new twist to the political contest as he is the brother of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

Key Leaders Get Tickets

Former Union minister Nisith Pramanik has been nominated from Mathabhanga, while advocate Priyanka Tibrewal will contest from Entally. Tibrewal had earlier contested against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Bhabanipur bypoll.

Focus on Women Candidates

The BJP has fielded 19 women candidates in this list, indicating a clear push towards increasing women’s representation in the upcoming elections.

New Faces and Changes

Other candidates announced include Noman Roy (Darjeeling), Mitali Mal (Khargram), Anamika Ghosh (Bharatpur), and Rinki Ghosh (Murarai). The party has also made changes on two seats, nominating Biswajit Khan from Vishnupur (SC) and Biswajit Mahato from Joypur.

Election Schedule Announced

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.