4,500 contenders vie for 294 seats as Congress gears up for Bengal polls

Political activity within the Indian National Congress has intensified ahead of the Assembly elections, with around 4,500 aspirants submitting their biodata for the 294 seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The large number of applications, confirmed by the state leadership, reflects the party’s attempt to reassert itself in state politics and expand its organizational footprint.

State Congress President Shubhankar Sarkar claimed that public inclination towards the party is steadily rising. He said that voters disillusioned with both the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are increasingly viewing Congress as a credible alternative. “The people of the state want change, and Congress can become the pivot of that change,” he said.

According to party sources, district-level screening committees have been formed to evaluate potential candidates in every constituency. On average, more than 15 aspirants are competing for each seat. The leadership has indicated that women and young leaders will be given priority in ticket distribution, noting that a significant number of women have applied.

The party plans to centre its campaign on local issues such as unemployment, inflation, education and healthcare, while activating booth-level workers and strengthening grassroots outreach. Student and youth wings are also being mobilised to inject renewed energy into the organization ahead of the polls.

A multi-layered selection process will be followed, beginning with district-level scrutiny before the state election committee finalises candidates. Organizational strength, public support base, social image and winnability are expected to be key criteria. The leadership is also engaging with aspirants to prevent dissent and avoid rebel candidates.

For over a decade, state politics has largely revolved around the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Congress now aims to carve out space between these dominant forces. While no formal alliance has been announced, discussions on possible understandings are ongoing. With morale reportedly high among workers, the party hopes that a transparent and balanced ticket distribution process could make several constituencies electorally competitive.