Aroop Biswas, Former Bengal Minister And Face Of The “Messi Fiasco,” Loses Tollygunge By Over 6,000 Votes

In a major upset in the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, BJP candidate Papia Adhikary has won the Tollygunge Assembly seat, defeating senior TMC leader Aroop Biswas by a margin of 6,013 votes.

According to the final results, Papia Adhikary secured 88,407 votes, while Aroop Biswas received 82,394 votes, finishing second. This result marks a significant political shift in a constituency that had long been considered a stronghold of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

A Big Setback for TMC in a Key Seat

The defeat of Aroop Biswas is seen as a major blow to the TMC. He had represented Tollygunge for several terms and was one of the party's prominent faces in south Kolkata.
This loss also breaks the party's long winning streak in the constituency, showing a clear change in voter preference in the 2026 elections.

Other Candidates and Vote Share

Apart from the BJP and TMC candidates, leaders from other parties also contested the seat:

• Partha Pratim Biswas of CPI(M) secured 30,335 votes, finishing third
• Manas Sinha Roy from Congress received 1,066 votes

A total of 11 candidates were in the fray, along with the NOTA option.

Past Election Trends in Tollygunge

Tollygunge has traditionally been a strong base for the TMC. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Aroop Biswas had comfortably retained the seat with more than 51% vote share, defeating the BJP candidate.

He had also won the seat in 2016, continuing his influence in the area and playing an important organisational role for the party.

Given this background, the 2026 result represents a major political turnaround.

Why Tollygunge Matters

Tollygunge is a fully urban constituency in south Kolkata and falls under the Jadavpur Lok Sabha segment. It is widely known as the hub of the Bengali film industry, often referred to as Tollywood.

The area includes a mix of residential neighbourhoods, commercial zones, and cultural centres. Voters here are generally focused on everyday civic issues such as:

• Waste management
• Road and infrastructure development
• Local maintenance and public services

In previous elections, voter turnout has remained moderate, around 73%, reflecting typical urban voting patterns.

A Shift in Voter Mood

The 2026 result suggests that voters in Tollygunge were looking for change. Despite TMC's strong presence in earlier elections, the BJP managed to gain enough support to secure a win.

This shift could indicate broader changes in urban voter behaviour in West Bengal, especially in key constituencies like Tollygunge.

Papia Adhikary's victory in Tollygunge is more than just a seat win-it signals a changing political landscape in Kolkata. The defeat of a long-time TMC leader like Aroop Biswas highlights the growing competition in the state.

As the BJP strengthens its position, the focus will now be on how it addresses local issues and meets the expectations of urban voters in constituencies like Tollygunge.