"Kaliaganj, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency in Uttar Dinajpur district of north West Bengal, is a predominantly rural seat where agriculture and small trade define daily life. Located in the Raiganj Lok Sabha segment, the constituency has become an increasingly contested political battleground in recent elections, reflecting the broader competition between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP across north Bengal.
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the seat was won by Soumen Roy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He secured victory over the nearest rival from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) by a margin of 21,820 votes. The result reflected the broader political alignment in the constituency and underlined the dominant party's organisational strength in the area.
Key issues in Kaliaganj (SC) centre on rural development and welfare delivery. Farmers face persistent concerns around crop pricing, irrigation facilities and seasonal flood damage along the nearby Kulik and Nagar rivers. Employment among the youth is a pressing concern, with limited non-agricultural livelihoods available locally. Access to government welfare schemes, healthcare infrastructure and road connectivity remain subjects of consistent demand. The constituency's significant Scheduled Caste population also makes affirmative action policies and job reservation a salient local issue. The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections are shaping up as a high-stakes contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is seeking to make major inroads into the state. With anti-incumbency, law-and-order concerns and welfare delivery all playing a role, every constituency is expected to be closely watched. Trinamool Congress has fielded Nitai Baishya while BJP has fielded Utpal Maharaj for the 2026 election."