West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: Strong wave of 'defections' sweeping through state; is sailing not easy for Mamata Banerjee this time?
West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: A strong gust of 'defections' is currently sweeping through the political landscape of West Bengal. Even before the battle bugle for the 2026 Assembly elections has sounded, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress party have suffered major setbacks.
The trend of leaders switching allegiance to other parties has intensified. The defection of two leaders over the past two days has not only complicated political equations but has also signaled that the battle for Bengal this time around is going to be extremely interesting and challenging. The BJP is now strategically bringing into its fold those faces who wield deep influence within their respective constituencies.
Arghya Roy Pradhan calls TMC a corrupt party
Arghya Roy Pradhan, the former TMC MLA from Mekhliganj, launched a scathing attack on his former party while formally joining the BJP. In the presence of State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari, he stated in unequivocal terms that he could no longer stand alongside a "corrupt party."
A significant loss for the TMC
Arghya's father, Amar Roy Pradhan, served as an eight-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Cooch Behar; consequently, his son's departure from the party is being viewed as a significant loss for the TMC. Expressing his anguish, he remarked that he found himself in a position where he could no longer face the people of his constituency, as the party's public image was constantly being tarnished.
Barman is a prominent leader of Rajbanshi community
Alongside Arghya Roy Pradhan, prominent Rajbanshi leader Banshi Badan Barman has also joined the BJP fold. In the politics of North Bengal, the Rajbanshi community's vote bank is considered highly decisive, and Barman is a prominent leader within this community. He has placed demands before the central leadership for the official recognition of the Rajbanshi language and for the protection of his community's rights.
BJP will formulate a new blueprint for the development of North Bengal: Suvendu
Speaking on the occasion, Suvendu Adhikari stated that, by acting upon Barman's suggestions, the BJP would formulate a new blueprint for the development of North Bengal. Political analysts believe that strengthening its foothold in ‘North Bengal’ and the ‘Rajbanshi vote bank’ constitutes the most crucial element of the BJP’s electoral strategy for 2026.
Santosh Pathak entry into BJP could completely alter political equations
The Congress party has suffered a major blow even within the metropolis of Kolkata, where Santosh Pathak—who served as the face of the Congress for decades and represented Ward No. 45 as a Councilor—has now joined the BJP. His entry into the BJP could completely alter the political equations surrounding the Chowringhee Assembly constituency. Speculation is rife that the BJP might field him against the TMC’s Nayna Banerjee—an opponent he had previously contested against in the 2021 elections.
Santosh Pathak has leveled serious allegations of administrative abuse against the TMC regarding the 2021 elections. He claimed that, during that period, police officials had entered polling booths and cast votes in favor of the ruling party.
Nitin Nabin’s Visit highly significant amidstnwave of defections
BJP National President Nitin Nabin’s two-day visit to Kolkata is being viewed as highly significant amidst this wave of political defections. He has arrived with the objective of reviewing the party’s organizational structure and formulating a robust strategy for the upcoming elections. The defection of Santosh Pathak—who was the sole Congress Councilor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation—to the BJP underscores the fact that the party is now actively consolidating its presence in both urban and rural areas.
All in all, the manner in which leaders from other parties are joining the BJP’s ranks, one after another, could pose a formidable challenge to the ruling TMC in the upcoming elections. It now remains to be seen whether these new faces will prove instrumental in helping the BJP cross the threshold of power in 2026.