In a massive political development ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, the Indian National Congress has released its candidate list for 284 seats. The standout name in the list is Mausam Benazir Noor, who resigned from the Trinamool Congress and her Rajya Sabha seat earlier this year to rejoin the Congress. She has been fielded from the Malatipur constituency in Malda, a district where her family’s political legacy remains unmatched.

The list features several heavyweights, including former MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who will contest from his stronghold, Baharampore. Other prominent names include Nepal Mahato from Baghmundi and Milton Rashid from Hasan. By contesting 284 seats independently without a formal alliance with the Left, the Congress has signaled its intent to fight on its own strength this time.

Mausam Noor’s return to the Congress fold is seen as a strategic move to regain the party’s lost ground in North Bengal, particularly in the Malda-Murshidabad belt. As the niece of the legendary Ghani Khan Chowdhury, her candidacy is expected to consolidate the minority vote bank. With both the TMC and BJP preparing for a high-stakes battle, Mausam Noor’s fight in Malatipur will be one of the most keenly watched contests of the 2026 polls.