NEW DELHI – As West Bengal prepares for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections on April 23 and April 29, a comparative analysis of the 2016 and 2021 results reveals a significant shift toward more decisive victory margins.
While nearly 74% of seats in 2016 were decided by mid-range margins (5,000 to 25,000 votes), the 2021 elections saw a surge in “landslide” victories. Seats won by more than 25,000 votes jumped from 98 to 132, representing 44% of the total assembly.
Key Trends and Battlegrounds:
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AITC Dominance in High Margins: In 2021, the AITC secured 118 seats with margins exceeding 25,000 votes, compared to just 13 for the BJP.
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The “Close Fight” Zone: Only seven seats in 2021 were decided by fewer than 1,000 votes, including Balarampur (423 votes) and Tamluk (793 votes). Tamluk remains a historically tight contest, with narrow margins dating back to 1962.
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Record Victories: The 2021 polls saw massive mandates in constituencies like Gosaba (1.66 lakh) and Dinhata (1.64 lakh).
With over seven crore voters set to cast their ballots, the 2026 election will determine if this trend of decisive polarization continues or if the state returns to the era of neck-and-neck battles.
