Just two days after the announcement of the schedule for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, several prominent figures, including a former cricketer, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday, adding momentum to the ruling party’s campaign.
State Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmick formally welcomed the new entrants by handing them the party flag at an event held earlier in the day.
Among those who joined the party were former cricketer Shiv Shankar Pal, noted academic and Santhal community figure Tanushree Hansda, and Islamic scholar Abdul Matin.
The development comes just hours before the TMC is expected to announce its candidate list for the upcoming Assembly elections, possibly as early as Tuesday afternoon. The timing has sparked speculation over whether any of the new entrants will be fielded as candidates.
Meanwhile, the state’s principal opposition, the BJP, announced its first list of candidates on Monday. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has been fielded from both Nandigram and Bhowanipur constituencies. Bhabanipur is currently represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Reacting to this move, Bhowmick took a swipe at the BJP and even expressed “gratitude” to state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya for fielding Adhikari from Bhowanipore.
Referring to the closely contested West Bengal Assembly Election 2021, where Mamata lost to Adhikari in Nandigram, Bhowmick revisited the controversy surrounding the counting process. The TMC had alleged that a power outage at the counting centre had influenced the outcome, a matter that was later taken to the Calcutta High Court.
“The man who claimed he defeated Mamata Banerjee will now be forced to hear from the people that he has lost by over one lakh votes,” Bhowmick said, targeting Adhikari’s candidature in Bhabanipur.
He also questioned Adhikari’s decision to contest from two constituencies, calling it a sign of insecurity. “If he is confident, why contest from two seats? Let him stand only from Bhabanipur and prove himself,” Bhowmick remarked, asserting that the TMC would win both Nandigram and Bhabanipur with separate candidates.
Bhowmick also voiced concerns regarding the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and the ongoing SIR process, expressing dissatisfaction over their functioning.
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