Chandipur assembly elections 2026: BJP's Pijush Kanti Das defeats Trinamool's Uttam Barik

NEW DELHI: In West Bengal's Chandipur, BJP's Pijush Kanti Das emerged victorious, defeating Uttam Barik of the ruling Trinamool Congress.Das polled 126,047 votes to defeat Das, who polled 105,777 votes, Election Commission's website showed.Soham Chakraborty of Trinamool Congress (AITC) was the sitting MLA for Chandipur assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district. He won the 2021 election with 109,770 votes, defeating BJP's Pulak Kanti Guria (96,298 votes) by a margin of 13,472 votes in a high-turnout contest of 92.76%. Key challenges of the region include rural unemployment, agricultural distress from erratic monsoons, inadequate irrigation, and poor rural road connectivity. Flooding from nearby rivers and limited industrial growth beyond fishing and small-scale units exacerbate poverty. Chandipur covers Chandipur CD block and parts of Bhagabanpur I, falling under Kanthi Lok Sabha seat. It's a general seat with a history of tight AITC-CPI(M)/BJP contests; prior MLAs include Amiya Kanti Bhattacharjee (2011-2016). The area relies on paddy cultivation, aquaculture, and salt production, with voter turnout consistently above 88per cent. Elections are due in 2026.