The Congress is likely to bank on veteran leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to regain lost ground in West Bengal, with strong indications that he may be fielded from the Baharampur Assembly constituency in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Election 2026.
Chowdhury, who suffered a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by losing his stronghold in Murshidabad, is now expected to make a return to state politics.
Sources suggest that the Congress high command is considering him as a key face in its strategy to revive the party’s prospects in the state. Although no official announcement has been made yet, party insiders indicated that it is only a matter of time before his candidature is formally announced. Baharampur, long considered his political bastion, is likely to witness a high-profile contest if he is fielded. Chowdhury’s political journey dates back to the early 1990s, when he contested from the Nabagram Assembly constituency in Murshidabad in 1991 and 1996 on a Congress ticket. While he lost his debut election, he emerged victorious in 1996. He later went on to become a Member of Parliament in 1999 and has since remained a prominent Congress figure in Bengal politics.
Speculation over his return to Assembly elections has been rife for several months. The anticipated decision to field him in 2026 is seen as a move to consolidate the party’s base in central Bengal, particularly in Murshidabad district. Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee is likely to release its first list of around 100 candidates for the state in the coming days. Sources said the initial list will feature key contenders or “top players,” reflecting the party’s intent to project strong candidates early in the electoral battle.
Apart from Baharampur, candidates for constituencies in Malda, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman are also expected to be announced in the first phase. Names doing the rounds include Isha Khan from Sujapur and Mausam Noor from Vaishnavnagar. State Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar is reportedly travelling to Delhi on Tuesday, fuelling speculation that the candidate list may be released late tonight or by Wednesday.