From Mamata Banerjee to Dilip Ghosh: Heavyweights in Bengal election 2026 - in pics

West Bengal’s incumbent chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo is the central figure in the 2026 polls, vowing a fourth consecutive term. Banerjee has ruled out alliances and set ambitious targets of well over 215 seats, arguing TMC’s grassroots work and welfare schemes will see her secure a two-thirds majority in the assembly.

As the Leader of Opposition and the BJP’s key campaign face in West Bengal, Adhikari has been active in challenging the TMC’s governance. He has criticised the state government over policies and voter roll issues while urging the Election Commission to ensure fairness in poll preparations.

The TMC’s national general secretary and chief campaign strategist is deeply involved in crafting the party’s election narrative.

Senior BJP leader and former state party president, Dilip Ghosh is being projected by the party’s leadership as one of its prominent faces for the 2026 campaign. Known for his organisational experience and combative style, Ghosh has been deployed in key regions such as the Matua belt to boost outreach and sharpen BJP’s messaging on citizenship and electoral reforms.

A veteran Congress leader and former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been a prominent voice for the party’s role in the state’s politics ahead of the 2026 polls. A seasoned parliamentarian and critic of both the BJP and TMC, he recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise concerns over alleged violence and discrimination against Bengali migrant workers. Despite losing his long-held Baharampur seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chowdhury remains influential in shaping Congress strategy in Bengal’s wider electoral battles.

As West Bengal BJP state president, Majumdar is central to the party’s organisational push. He has been vocal against the TMC’s alleged misuse of power and works with central leaders and cadre to strengthen the BJP’s presence ahead of 2026, framing the contest as a fight against corruption and anti-incumbency.

The Prime Minister’s involvement in Bengal’s politics has strategic weight, with BJP campaigns invoking national narratives on security, development and border issues to sway voters in 2026.

A pivotal strategist, Union home minister Amit Shah has been actively shaping the BJP’s 2026 campaign in West Bengal, urging grassroots mobilisation and projecting leaders like Ghosh and Adhikari to bolster the party’s prospects.