Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 – Shifting Political Signals in Chowringhee: Will Santosh Pathak Seize the Trinamool Stronghold? Kolkata, April 06. The upcoming election in Chowringhee—considered one of West Bengal's most prestigious and high-profile urban assembly constituencies—is shaping up to be an exceptionally intriguing contest. In this seat, which has long been under the control of the Trinamool Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Santosh Pathak, has made the competition extraordinarily compelling this time around. Political analysts believe that this election is no longer merely a "party versus party" battle, but has evolved into a "face versus face" contest, where individual popularity and grassroots support could significantly influence the outcome. The Chowringhee assembly constituency—widely regarded as the commercial and cultural hub of Kolkata—boasts a rich political history. Established in 1957, the seat was dominated by the Congress party during its initial decades; subsequently, the Trinamool Congress established a firm foothold here. Since 2001, the Trinamool has consistently emerged victorious in this constituency, cementing its reputation as a secure stronghold for the party.
The incumbent MLA, Nayna Banerjee—wife of senior Trinamool leader and MP Sudip Banerjee—has enjoyed a streak of consecutive victories in this constituency. Her winning streak, which began with a victory in the 2014 by-election, continued through the 2016 and 2021 assembly polls. In 2021, she demonstrated her formidable position by defeating her BJP opponent by a massive margin of 45,344 votes. The Trinamool's robust organizational machinery, the support of minority voters, and a strong local network are considered to be her greatest assets. However, the contest this time does not appear to be as straightforward as it has been in the past. By fielding Santosh Pathak as its candidate, the BJP has injected a new dynamic into the election. Santosh Pathak began his political journey with the Congress party; having remained active in the region for a considerable period, he is perceived to possess a strong personal identity and broad social acceptability. Consequently, he enjoys popularity not only among BJP cadres but also among a segment of supporters from other political parties. Political observers opine that Santosh Pathak's greatest strengths are his personal image and his grassroots connections. His hold over Hindi-speaking voters, the business community, and traditional Congress supporters could create a new electoral dynamic for the BJP in this constituency. In particular, it is believed that if the traditional vote base of the Congress and the Left parties does not consolidate entirely behind him—and a portion of it shifts to the BJP—the contest could prove challenging for the Trinamool.