TMC and BJP Leaders Prematurely Announce Candidates Ahead of 2026 Bengal Elections

Even though the West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled for early 2026, political impatience has already overtaken protocol in both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Leaders from both sides have publicly declared their preferred candidates for key constituencies, completely bypassing internal consultation processes and official party mechanisms. This premature announcement spree, driven by personal ambition and local influence, has caused significant embarrassment within party ranks and exposed early cracks in organizational discipline ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested electoral battle.

In Sainthia, Birbhum district, senior TMC leader Anubrata Mondal took center stage at a Bijoya Sammilani event to unilaterally declare sitting MLA Lilabati as Mamata Banerjee’s chosen candidate for the 2026 polls. “Remember, the 2026 election is for Mamata Banerjee. Lilabati is her candidate. If Lilabati doesn’t win, Mamata Banerjee will not remain Chief Minister,” Mondal proclaimed to a gathered crowd. His statement, delivered with characteristic boldness, was not cleared by the party’s central leadership and has raised concerns about decentralized decision-making in a party that prides itself on top-down control under Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee.

Across the political divide, BJP MLA and former cricketer Ashok Dinda made an equally audacious move in the Maina constituency. Speaking from a public platform, Dinda confidently asserted that he had a “99.99 per cent chance” of being the party’s candidate in 2026. “I can confirm that Ashok Dinda will contest from Maina. I will fight,” he declared, leaving little room for ambiguity. The announcement drew immediate rebuke from the BJP’s state leadership, with several senior figures reminding him that candidate selection remains the sole prerogative of the party’s parliamentary board and central election committee.

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Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari offered a balanced response, acknowledging Dinda’s active presence in his constituency while firmly reiterating that no individual can pre-empt the party’s official decision. “He can be the candidate when the party announces it. He is a performing MLA who stays connected with people,” Adhikari said, attempting to diffuse tension without endorsing the premature claim. The incident has fueled TMC’s narrative that the BJP lacks internal cohesion, especially after its reduced performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The verbal sparring between the two parties has only intensified. Senior TMC leader Jayprakash Majumder seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP, stating that Dinda’s outburst reflects a deeper leadership crisis within the opposition. “Everyone in the BJP now wants a ticket—their house is not in order,” he remarked. However, when pressed on Anubrata Mondal’s similar actions, Majumder dismissed it as harmless speculation, insisting that predicting a sitting MLA’s renomination does not constitute a breach of discipline. As both parties gear up for a high-voltage campaign, these early missteps signal that the road to 2026 will be marked by internal rivalries, public posturing, and a relentless battle for narrative control.

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