Bhangar: The volatile constituency of Bhangar went to the polls during Phase 2 on the 29th of April as part of the multiphased West Bengal polls.
This morning, 04 May, election officials will begin the count for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
Counting is scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m. local time, with Bhangar remaining under intense scrutiny following a polling period defined by significant unrest and a shifting political landscape.
Alert: Continued Political Volatility
The current situation in Bhangar is described as highly volatile, with the area identified as one of the most unstable zones in the state. Recent reports from the second phase of polling on 29 April indicate fresh clashes between supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The ISF has filed formal complaints alleging that their polling agents were forcibly removed from several booths, leading to a heavy deployment of paramilitary forces as the tallying process begins.
Full list of contestants
- Saokat Molla (TMC)
- Jayanta Gayen (BJP)
- Mahabubul Islam (INC)
- Md Nawsad Siddique (AISF)
- Sima Bhattacharyya (AJUN)
- Sujata Ranjan (BSP)
- Rafique Akunji (SUCIC)
- Kamaluddin Molla (IND)
- Ikbal Molla (IND)
- Akiyabul Middya (IND)
- Rajib Ahamed (IND)
- Md Rabiul Islam Gazi (IND)
- Md Momtajur Rahaman Molla (IND)
- Md Mir Samsuddin (IND)
- Mirja Hasan (IND)
- Masadul Molla (IND)
- Mafijul Ali Biswas (IND)
- Naosan Molla (IND)
- Karimul Molla (IND)
Constituency Profile
Bhangar, located in the South 24 Parganas district, is a flashpoint for minority politics and has a long history of agrarian and political activism. It is often characterised by its intense local rivalries and has recently become a laboratory for "Third Front" politics in West Bengal. The result here is considered a critical indicator of whether traditional party loyalties amongst minority voters are being disrupted by newer political formations.
Who Is Competing: The Major Contenders
The 2026 contest in Bhangar is a high-stakes battle between established power and a surging challenger.
- Md. Nawsad Siddique (ISF): The incumbent and a key figure in the Indian Secular Front, Siddique is attempting to hold the seat and prove the enduring influence of the ISF.
- Saokat Molla (TMC): A senior leader from the Trinamool Congress, Molla is leading the party's effort to reclaim this territory and consolidate the district's vote bank.
The Legacy: Previous Election Results
In the 2021 assembly election, Bhangar produced one of the most significant results in the state when it elected Nawsad Siddique, the sole representative of the ISF, to the assembly. This victory marked a major break in the TMC's dominance in the district and established the constituency as a central battlefield for the state's minority-dominated regions.
Exit Polls and Projections
Statewide exit polls suggest a neck-and-neck race between the major alliances for the 148-seat majority. In Bhangar, analysts are closely watching to see if the "Third Front" can disrupt the bipolar dominance of the TMC and BJP. Projections indicate that the result in this constituency will be outcome-defining, specifically regarding the consolidation or fragmentation of the opposition vote.