Veteran Congress leader and former five-time MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s sudden return to his old residence ‘Chowdhury Villa’ in Berhampore has triggered fresh political speculation ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. His appearance at the iconic house in Murshidabad on Wednesday has led to growing buzz in political circles that the Congress strongman may be preparing to contest from the Berhampore Assembly constituency.
Located in Gorabazar in Berhampore, Chowdhury Villa has long been associated with Adhir Chowdhury’s political journey. The house is widely considered a symbolic political base for the Congress leader, from where he held several strategy meetings and political discussions during the peak of his parliamentary career.
Chowdhury had lived in this house during the period when he was repeatedly elected as a Member of Parliament from the Berhampore Lok Sabha constituency. The building also holds deep personal significance for him, having witnessed many milestones in both his political and personal life.
In the past, the ground floor of the villa housed a small room where Chowdhury frequently held meetings with members of the Congress core committee. Over time, however, he gradually stopped staying at the residence, and the house reportedly remained closed for long periods.
On Wednesday morning, district Congress leaders unexpectedly informed journalists that Adhir Chowdhury would meet the media at Chowdhury Villa, surprising many in the political and media circles. The announcement itself was enough to ignite speculation about his future political plans.
Until now, Chowdhury has usually stayed at another residence in Kasim Bazar when visiting Berhampore, while media interactions typically took place at the district Congress office. His decision to hold a press interaction at Chowdhury Villa instead of the party office has therefore drawn particular attention.
The timing is also politically significant. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chowdhury lost the Berhampore seat to Trinamool Congress candidate Yusuf Pathan, ending his long parliamentary run from the constituency.
After the defeat, the Congress leader maintained a relatively low profile for some time. In recent months, however, he has become increasingly active again in Murshidabad, regularly participating in political programmes across the district and attempting to revive the Congress organisation at the grassroots level.
This renewed political activity has further fuelled speculation that Chowdhury may return to state-level electoral politics in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Before becoming a Member of Parliament in 1999, Chowdhury had contested the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1991 and 1996 from the Nabagram constituency in Murshidabad on a Congress ticket. Although he lost his first attempt in 1991, he won the seat in 1996, marking his entry into the state legislature.
With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, discussions have begun over whether Chowdhury could once again contest a state election after nearly three decades.
However, the veteran leader himself has downplayed the speculation. Responding to questions about his visit to Chowdhury Villa, he said the house simply needed to be used occasionally.
“Many people were saying that the house should be used from time to time, so I came here. I do not believe in these ideas of ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’ places,” Chowdhury remarked.
Meanwhile, Humayun Kabir, chairman of the Amjanata Unnayan Party, said he would strongly support Chowdhury if he decided to contest the Assembly election.
“If Adhir Chowdhury contests the Assembly election, I will put in all my efforts to help him win. It will give me a chance to correct the mistake I made during the Lok Sabha election,” Kabir said.
Interestingly, despite losing the parliamentary seat in 2024, Chowdhury had secured a lead of more than 11,000 votes in the Berhampore Assembly segment, a factor that has further intensified speculation about his possible return to state politics.
According to a recent Najarbandi opinion poll, the Berhampore Assembly seat could swing in favour of the Congress in the upcoming election — a development that may further influence the party’s strategy in Murshidabad.
For now, Chowdhury’s brief return to the historic Chowdhury Villa has reignited political conversations across Berhampore, with many watching closely to see whether the veteran Congress leader is preparing for a dramatic comeback in the state Assembly elections.
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