Bengal assembly elections: Who’s in Left Front’s third batch of candidates?

Kolkata: The Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], has released its third list of candidates for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. This list adds 15 more names to their growing roster, bringing the total to 239 candidates out of 294 seats.

Details of the third list

Out of the 15 candidates, 13 are from CPI(M) while 2 are from the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB). Notable CPI(M) leaders on the list include Tapan Ghosh, Zamiruddin Molla, and Shyamal Roy. The AIFB candidates are Arun Kumar Barma and Jhuma Das.

The first two lists of candidates had already included 224 names, featuring prominent leaders such as outgoing Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and CPI(M) central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee. Previous notable inclusions were Pasang Sherpa, Basudeb Barman, and Anwarul Haque.

Election schedule

Polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes for both phases is scheduled for May 4.

Once a dominant political force in West Bengal, the Left Front is now striving to revive its presence in the state amid a tough contest against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The elections are expected to be a three-way battle, with newer entrants like the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), founded by former TMC leader Humayun Kabir, also contesting in alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.

In recent developments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly addressed party workers, emphasizing that a victory in the state will pave the way for the TMC’s expanded focus at the national level.

The Left Front’s latest candidate announcement reflects its strategy to remain competitive in the upcoming polls, while also highlighting the growing number of parties and alliances vying for influence in the state.
(With ANI inputs)