The heat of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections is rising rapidly. Following the announcement of poll dates, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are hitting the streets today with a protest march from College Square to Dorina Crossing, targeting issues like gas prices and inflation. Reports suggest that TMC will likely announce its candidate list on Tuesday from Kalighat, focusing on performance-based selection and several new faces.

The BJP is keeping pace, with plans to release its first list of around 155 candidates on Tuesday. Following a key meeting today in Delhi between Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendu Adhikari, Shamik Bhattacharya, and the central leadership, the saffron party’s strategy will be finalized.

The election will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting on May 4. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar defended the move to reduce the phases from eight to two, citing convenience for all stakeholders. With by-elections in other states also scheduled, the political landscape is set for a high-stakes battle.