Bengal polls: 1,586 candidates file nomination papers for April 23 1st phase

A total of 1,586 candidates filed nominations for 152 constituencies in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Scrutiny is underway, with withdrawals due by April 9. Polling is scheduled for April 23, officials said

Kolkata: A total of 1,586 candidates have filed nomination papers from 152 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, which are going to the polls in the first phase on April 23. Monday was the last day to file nominations for the first phase in West Bengal.

At the end of the day, a total of 1,586 candidates are in the fray for the first phase, said an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal. However, since some of these candidates have filed more than one nomination form, the total of nomination forms received by the Commission till Monday evening stood at 2,304.

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The CEO’s office insider clarified that, as per the rules of the Election Commission of India (ECI), one candidate can file more than one nomination and also from more than one constituency.

“However, the number 1,586 candidates that are in the fray till Monday night might get reduced later at the end of the withdrawal of nomination papers,” the CEO’s office insider said. The last day for withdrawal of the nominations for the first phase of polling is April 9. The scrutiny of the nominations filed for the first phase of polls will be done during the day.

In the last Assembly elections in 2021, a total of 1,062 candidates contested from the 152 Assembly constituencies going for polls in the first phase on April 23, 2026. Of the 152 Assembly constituencies, the maximum number of nominations filed this time was from Karandighi in North Dinajpur district at 23, followed by Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar district at 18, and Cooch Behar (Dakshin) in the same district at 16.

The least number of candidates who filed their nomination papers this time are from Saltora Assembly constituency in Bankura district, Chandrakona in West Midnapore district, and Egra in East Midnapore district, with six candidates in the fray from these three seats.

The polling for the second phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal will be on April 29 for the remaining 132 constituencies. The results will be declared on May 4.