Kolkata, March 17: The dates for the upcoming elections in West Bengal have been announced, with voting scheduled for April 23 and 29. Unlike the previous elections that took place over eight phases, this time the process will be completed in just two phases. Political parties are gearing up for the electoral battle, and it is essential to understand the political dynamics of the seven assembly seats under the Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency.
Currently, Kolkata South is a stronghold for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with a firm grip on 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 been a favorable seat for the TMC. The incumbent MLA, Javed Ahmed Khan, has won in the last three assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains the primary challenger to the TMC in this constituency.
Behala East, another general category 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 concern for the ruling party.
Behala West has also been a stronghold for the TMC, with party leader Partha Chatterjee winning the seat for the third consecutive time in 2011. Despite the BJP emerging as a significant challenger in the 2019 elections, the TMC has retained its position. The party is now focused on finding a suitable successor for Chatterjee as they prepare for the 2026 elections.
The Kolkata Port assembly seat has been under TMC control since 2011, with Firhad Hakim as the candidate. Hakim, a former cabinet minister, has successfully defended his seat against BJP’s Awdh Kishore Gupta in the past elections.
Bhawanipur, known as the home constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has never seen a TMC defeat since her return in 2011. Banerjee’s popularity ensures significant support when she contests elections. Although the BJP occasionally poses a challenge, a large segment of voters in Bhawanipur remains loyal to her.
Rasbehari, located in the heart of Kolkata, has been a TMC seat since winning in the 1998 by-elections. In the 2021 elections, TMC’s Debashish Kumar defeated BJP’s Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Subhrat Saha by 21,414 votes. However, the BJP’s growing influence in the area could present challenges in the upcoming elections.
Ballygunge, one of Kolkata’s most affluent areas, has been a TMC stronghold since 2006. Subrata Mukherjee won three consecutive elections from this seat until his passing in 2022, after which TMC’s Babul Supriyo retained the seat. The TMC continues to hold a significant lead here, although the BJP has emerged as the main opposition since 2014.
As the 2026 assembly elections approach, the TMC appears to be in a strong position across these constituencies, while the BJP and the Left-Congress alliance still face challenges in mounting a formidable opposition.