New Delhi, May 5: In a closely contested election for the Sagar Assembly seat in West Bengal, BJP’s Sumant Mandal emerged victorious. He defeated the incumbent TMC leader, Bankim Chandra Hazra, by a margin of 7,881 votes.
Sumant Mandal secured 127,802 votes, while Bankim Chandra Hazra received 119,921 votes. The CPI(M) candidate, Swapna Sinha, finished in third place, followed by the Congress candidate.
The Sagar Assembly seat is considered a significant constituency in the South 24 Parganas district. Its political influence in the coastal region of South Bengal is noteworthy. This seat falls under the Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency. Historically, left parties dominated this area, but since 2011, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has established a stronghold. The 2026 assembly elections showcased an intriguing contest.
Several key candidates participated in the 2026 elections for the Sagar seat. The TMC once again placed its trust in the sitting MLA, Bankim Chandra Hazra, while the BJP nominated Sumant Mandal. The CPI(M) fielded Swapna Sinha, and Congress put forth Prashant Khutia. Additionally, Anupam Pani from the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and Anukul Patra from the Bahujan Samaj Party also contested.
Voter turnout in Sagar has consistently been high. In 2011, the turnout was 91.9%, a record that stood for years. However, in 2026, this record was broken with a turnout of 92.75%. This indicates strong voter engagement in the Sagar constituency.
The TMC currently holds the Mathurapur Lok Sabha seat, represented by MP Bapi Haldar. The Sagar Assembly seat was established in 1951 but was not in existence during the 1957 and 1962 elections. It was reintroduced after a reorganization and its current form was defined after the delimitation process in 2006.
Historically, the left parties, particularly the CPI(M), had a significant influence in this constituency from 1971 until 2006. However, since 2011, the TMC has strengthened its position, with Bankim Chandra Hazra winning three consecutive terms in 2011, 2016, and 2021. This reflects a shift in political power in recent years.
In the 2021 assembly elections, Bankim Chandra Hazra received 129,000 votes, while BJP’s Kamila Bikash garnered 99,154 votes, with Hazra winning by a margin of 29,846 votes.
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