Kolkata, May 5: In a significant political shift, Rupa Ganguly, the candidate from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a renowned actress, has achieved a remarkable victory in the high-profile Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly seat in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. This win marks the end of the long-standing dominance of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in this constituency.
According to the Election Commission results, Ganguly secured a total of 128,970 votes, defeating her nearest rival by a substantial margin of 35,782 votes. This victory is historic as it is the first time the BJP has claimed this seat.
Rupa Ganguly is a prominent figure in the Indian film and television industry, best known for her iconic portrayal of Draupadi in the epic series ‘Mahabharat.’ She is also a talented playback singer, having won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2011 for her work in the film ‘Abosheshe.’
The Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly seat (constituency number 150) was formed after the 2008 delimitation and has been contested since 2011. The TMC has previously held this seat, with Jiban Mukhopadhyay winning in 2011 and 2016, while actress and TMC leader Lovely Moitra (Arundhati Moitra) maintained the seat in 2021.
However, the 2026 elections saw the BJP fielding a strong and popular candidate like Rupa Ganguly, making the contest highly competitive. Her extensive public support and aggressive campaigning resonated with voters, allowing the BJP to penetrate the TMC’s stronghold.
This constituency is primarily semi-urban, experiencing rapid development. It has a significant educated Bengali middle-class population, along with crucial voters from Scheduled Castes, particularly the Poundra and Namashudra communities. Key issues in this election included local development, infrastructure improvement, and women’s safety.
The Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly seat falls under the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency, a vital political area adjacent to Kolkata.
Historically, since its formation in 2011, the TMC has maintained a stronghold here. Before delimitation, this area was a bastion for the Left Front, particularly the CPI(M).
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