In one of its biggest candidate reshuffles in recent elections, the ruling TMC dropped 74 sitting MLAs, nearly a third of its legislative strength, while announcing candidates for 291 of the 294 West Bengal assembly seats on Tuesday, signalling a calibrated anti-incumbency strategy as it seeks a fourth straight term.
The candidate list, unveiled by Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, sets the stage for a renewed high-voltage electoral confrontation with the BJP, including a direct face-off in Bhabanipur where the CM will defend her seat against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, rekindling a rivalry that played out in Nandigram during the 2021 assembly polls.
The candidate list reflects what party insiders describe as a “controlled churn” strategy, balancing generational change with organisational continuity as the TMC attempts to counter accumulated anti-incumbency after nearly three terms in power while confronting an aggressive campaign by the BJP.
Announcing the candidates from her Kalighat residence, Banerjee said the party would contest 291 seats while leaving the three Darjeeling Hills constituencies to ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha led by Anit Thapa.
“We will contest 291 seats and win more than 226,” Banerjee asserted, flanked by party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and state president Subrata Bakshi.
Of the 224 MLAs, the party retained 135 (around 60 per cent), shifted 15 to different seats, and dropped 74, suggesting an effort by the leadership to neutralise local anti-incumbency while preserving its booth-level organisational network.