In a major strategic move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its second and final list of candidates for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, featuring the heavyweight name of Arjun Singh. The powerful leader from the Barrackpore industrial belt is set to contest the assembly elections after a hiatus of 10 long years. This comeback is being viewed as a masterstroke by the BJP to consolidate its influence in North 24 Parganas.

Arjun Singh, a former MP who has been a central figure in Bengal’s high-stakes politics, had last contested an assembly election in 2016 (effectively remaining away from the direct state contest in 2021 while serving as an MP). By fielding him now, the BJP high command aims to leverage his deep-rooted connect with the jute mill workers and the Hindi-speaking electorate of the industrial region. “I am ready for this battle. Returning to the assembly polls after a decade is a significant responsibility, and I am confident that the people want change,” Singh remarked after the announcement.

Political analysts suggest that Singh’s presence on the ballot will create a ripple effect across neighboring constituencies. His expertise in grassroots management and his “strongman” image are expected to counter the Trinamool Congress’s organizational might in the district. As Arjun Singh prepares to take the plunge after a decade-long gap, the battle for the industrial soul of Bengal has reached its boiling point.