The crossover between glamour and politics is playing out loud in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Actors to singers and sports personalities, people from all walks of life have emerged as key candidates in the high-voltage contest for 294 seats.
Alike South, Bengal has long embraced celebrities in politics. This election, however, has taken that tradition a notch higher, with both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielding a striking roster of familiar faces. More than star dust, these candidates bring along cultural connection and social media influence in an election dominated by intense campaigning and anti-incumbency chatter. With polling spread in two phases on April 23 and 29 in Bengal, many significant constituencies represented by celebrity candidates are now under focus.
The trend of celebs venturing into politics is not new. From Shatrughan Sinha to Jaya Bachchan and Smriti Irani, Indian politics has embraced actors wholeheartedly. While some contest polls, many of them are often seen supporting the candidates during election campaigns. Some popular celeb-turned-politicians in Bengal include Soham Chakraborty and Rudranil Ghosh, who have remained strong contenders. Others from the entertainment and television industries are namely Roopa Ganguly, Indranil Sen and Sayantika Banerjee.
Meanwhile, Mithun Chakraborty and Babul Supriyo have contributed their share of glamour to their party candidates in the 2026 assembly election campaigns. On the other hand, there are increasing speculations on whether this strategy has become less effective, given the findings that glamour alone might not necessarily lead to an electoral win in a state like West Bengal. Amid such a politically sensitive situation and stiff competition, 2026 is going to be a defining year for parties in utilising celebrity power.
As West Bengal votes in Phase 2, here is a list of the major celeb-politicians contesting the high-states polls. The election results will be declared on May 4.
Soham Chakraborty – TMC
Bengali actor Soham Chakraborty is contesting from the Karimpur constituency in Nadia on a TMC ticket. He began his career as a child artist in the 1980s and went on to headline several hit Bengali films. Soham, who joined TMC in 2016, won the General election 2021 from Chandipur constituency.
Arundhati Lovely Maitra – TMC
TV actor Arundhati Maitra, also known as Lovely Maitra, is contesting from Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas in favour of TMC. Arundhati Maitra is a sought-after actress for Bengali TV series and films such as Jol Nupur, Mohor and Chiroshokha. Therefore, she has become a popular face owing to her successful portrayal of several characters in Bengali serials.
Sayantika Banerjee – TMC
Actor Sayantika Banerjee is contesting from Baranagar in North 24 Parganas on behalf of the TMC. She entered politics before the 2021 state assembly elections and fought from Bankura. She however was unable to win that election. After making a significant comeback in the 2024 by-elections by winning the seat as MLA of Baranagar, she is now contesting to consolidate her position.
Raj Chakraborty – TMC
Celebrated filmmaker Raj Chakraborty, representing TMC, is contesting for the Barrackpur Seat in North 24 Parganas.
Shreya Pandey – TMC
Television actor Shreya Pandey is contesting from Maniktala in Kolkata on a TMC ticket. She comes from a political family since both her parents, namely Supti Pandey and Sadhan Pande, are important leaders in this political organisation. The latter has, in fact, been a state minister in the government of West Bengal.
Aditi Munshi and Indranil Sen – TMC
There have also been some prominent musicians who are contesting under the banner of the Trinamool Congress. Aditi Munshi, a renowned kirtan singer, is fighting from the constituency of Gopalpur, Rajarhat, close to Salt Lake. Indranil Sen, a celebrated singer, is contesting from Chandannagar under the banner of TMC.
Nayna Bandyopadhyay – TMC
Nayna Bandyopadhyay, a known face in the Bengali film industry, is contesting from the Chowrangee constituency in Kolkata. She will face BJP’s Santosh Kumar Pathak in the polls.
Rudranil Ghosh – BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Rudranil Ghosh from the constituency of Shibpur, located in Howrah district. This actor is loved for his versatile roles in the Bengali film industry. Previously, he contested the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from the Bhabanipur constituency on a BJP ticket. He lost that election to TMC leader Sovandeb Chatterjee.
Roopa Ganguly – BJP
Another notable name is Roopa Ganguly, who is best known for playing Draupadi in the TV serial Mahabharat. A veteran artist who has served the film industry for over four decades now, is the recipient of the National Award. She is contesting from the Sonarpur Dakshin constituency on a BJP ticket.
Papiya De Adhikari – BJP
The veteran actor Papiya De Adhikari is contesting from the Tollygunge seat in South Kolkata under the BJP banner. An accomplished artist in the field of cinema, TV and theatre, she has had a long experience in the world of performances and culture.
Hiran Chatterjee – BJP
Hiran Chatterjee is an actor who has recently entered politics and has now become a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He will be contesting the elections from Shyampur in Howrah. He was a sitting MLA representing Kharagpur Sadar, from where he gave way to Dilip Ghosh, the senior leader of the BJP. Recently, he had been in news because of his controversial marriage with actor Ritika Giri in Varanasi.