Cooch Behar Dakshin election result 2026: BJP's Bishal Lama defeated TMC's Birendra Bara by 37,843 votes

In West Bengal's Kalchini (ST) seat, BJP candidate Bishal Lama defeated TMC candidate Birendra Bara by 37,843 votes. Lama got 1,14,759 votes while Bara got 76,916 votes. Kalchini (ST) is a Scheduled Tribe-reserved constituency in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, situated in the Dooars region of north Bengal. In 2026, the candidates include Birendra Bara of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bishal Lama of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Anjan Chik Baraik of the Congress.In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the constituency was won by Pasang Lama of the BJP, who defeated his nearest rival from the TMC by a margin of around 33,000 votes. The decisive victory aligned with the BJP's broader electoral gains across several constituencies in north Bengal during that election cycle.The constituency is known for its tea gardens, forested terrain, and a sizeable tribal population. The local economy is largely driven by tea plantation work, small-scale agriculture, and allied rural activities. Tea garden workers frequently highlight matters related to wages, job security, housing, and access to healthcare, while delays in payments, closure of gardens, and economic uncertainty have remained persistent concerns.The constituency went to polls on April 23, as part of Phase 1. Alipurduar district recorded a voter turnout of 93.2%.