Roopa Ganguly vs Lovely Maitra: Star power clash ignites Sonarpur Dakshin battle in 2026 Bengal polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Ganguly from the seat, setting up a direct face-off between two well-known figures from the entertainment industry, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again placed her trust in Maitra.

Accepting the nomination, Ganguly said the party had entrusted her with a significant responsibility, and she would strive to fulfill it, adding that Bengal needs change and she is ready to work hard towards that goal.

Earlier speculation had been rife over whether Lovely Maitra would be fielded in the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections.

Putting all doubts to rest, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again reposed faith in her, prompting the Trinamool Congress candidate to kick off her campaign in full swing.

Lovely Maitra, a well-known Bengali television actress, began her career with the hit show Jol Nupur in 2013 and later appeared in popular serials like Mohor and Guddi.

Roopa Ganguly, on the other hand, enjoys nationwide recognition as an actress and has been an active political figure for years.

With this announcement, Sonarpur Dakshin is set to witness a direct clash between two prominent faces from the entertainment world, turning the constituency into one of the most closely watched battles in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, the BJP has accelerated its candidate announcements ahead of the polls. After releasing its first list of 144 candidates on March 16, the party has now unveiled a second list featuring 112 names, leaving 38 seats yet to be declared.

Among the major highlights earlier was Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari contesting from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies.

The latest list also includes several notable candidates across constituencies, underscoring the party’s strategy to intensify its campaign in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.

The West Bengal Assembly elections will take place in two phases, scheduled for April 23 and April 29.

The multi-phase polling reflects the scale and complexity of conducting elections in one of India’s most politically charged states.