In a bold and calculated move ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP has dropped eight sitting MLAs in its very first list of candidates—sending a clear message that performance and ground-level feedback outweigh incumbency. The decision, based heavily on internal surveys and organisational assessments, has stirred both political debate and internal ripples within the party.
The BJP on Monday announced candidates for 144 constituencies in the first phase. Out of these, 48 seats were held by the party. However, only 40 sitting MLAs have been retained, while eight have been denied tickets. Sources within the party indicate that the central leadership relied primarily on public perception surveys and organisational reports rather than local lobbying or factional preferences.
One of the biggest surprises came from Balurghat, where economist Ashok Lahiri—considered close to the central leadership—has been dropped despite his 2021 victory. In North Bengal, similar decisions were taken in Sitalkuchi and Kaliaganj, where sitting MLAs Baren Chandra Barman and Soumen Roy have been replaced.
In Rarh Bengal, the पार्टी made significant changes in Kharagpur Sadar, Balarampur, and Raghunathpur. Actor-turned-politician Hiran Chatterjee lost his ticket amid controversy surrounding his personal life, while former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh is set to return to Kharagpur Sadar. Survey reports reportedly showed stronger support for Ghosh at the grassroots level.
Further, Balarampur MLA Baneswar Mahato and Raghunathpur MLA Bivekananda Bauri were dropped due to poor public connect and underperformance in recent electoral trends. In South Bengal’s Arambagh subdivision, both Arambagh and Goghat seats saw candidate changes, largely attributed to internal factional conflicts.
However, the party has shown selective flexibility. Despite losing ground in the Lok Sabha elections, Chandana Bauri (Saltora) and Kamalakanta Hansda (Kashipur) retained their tickets due to strong organisational presence and consistent public engagement.
In Kaliaganj, Soumen Roy’s inconsistent political allegiance and weak organisational ties worked against him. Meanwhile, the rising popularity of Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Utpal Maharaj influenced the पार्टी’s decision to field a new face.
The candidate list has also triggered political reactions, especially after it was released in Hindi, giving the ruling Trinamool Congress fresh ammunition to push its “Bengali vs outsider” narrative.
Overall, BJP’s first list reflects a data-driven strategy, prioritising winnability and organisational strength over loyalty—setting the tone for a fiercely competitive election.
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