Phansidewa election result 2026: BJP's Durga Murmu defeated TMC's Reena Topno Ekka by 45,263 votes

In West Bengal's Phansidewa (ST) constituency, BJP candidate Durga Murmu defeated TMC candidate Reena Topno Ekka by 45,263 votes. While Murmu got 1,18,241 votes, Ekka got 72,978 votes.Phansidewa (ST) is a Scheduled Tribe-reserved constituency in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, situated in the Terai region of north Bengal and including semi-urban towns and rural villages. In 2026, the candidates include Reena Topno Ekka of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Durga Murmu of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Smt. Nabanita Tirkey of the Congress.In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Phansidewa (ST) was won by Durga Murmu of the BJP, who defeated his nearest rival from the TMC by a margin of around 11,000 votes. The result highlighted the BJP's strengthened position among tribal voters in north Bengal.Tea gardens, agriculture, and small businesses form the backbone of the local economy, and the constituency has a significant tribal population for whom welfare, livelihoods, and development are central issues. Tea garden workers and farmers frequently raise concerns regarding wages, job security, irrigation, crop pricing, and timely access to government support schemes. Tribal communities emphasise the need for protection of land and forest rights and effective delivery of welfare programmes.The constituency went to polls on April 23, as part of Phase 1. Darjeeling district recorded a voter turnout of 88.98%.