Raninagar Assembly Election Results 2026

Raninagar is a general category Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district and one of the seven segments under the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat. It shares a porous and crime-prone border with Bangladesh, making it geopolitically sensitive. Originally established in 1957, the constituency vanished from West Bengal’s electoral map in 1967 and was revived in 2011 following the Delimitation Commission’s recommendations in 2008. In its present form, Raninagar comprises the entire Raninagar I community development block, five gram panchayats of Raninagar II block, and one gram panchayat from Domkal block.

The seat is overwhelmingly rural, with only 7.6 per cent of voters residing in urban pockets. It had 256,101 registered voters in 2021, up from 243,345 in 2019, 223,995 in 2016, and 186,600 in 2011. The increase of 69,501 voters over a decade has raised concerns about illegal migration from Bangladesh, with Raninagar allegedly serving as a transit point for migrants moving to other parts of West Bengal and beyond.

Muslims form 81.30 per cent of the electorate, while Scheduled Castes account for 7.90 per cent. Voter turnout has consistently been high: 86.70 per cent in 2021, 84.71 per cent in 2019, 84.89 per cent in 2016, and a peak of 87.80 per cent in 2011.

Politically, Raninagar has seen five elections so far. Independent Syed Badruddin won in 1957 and 1962. Congress leader Firoza Begam secured back-to-back victories in 2011 and 2016. The Trinamool Congress opened its account in 2021, with Abdul Soumik Hossain defeating Begam by a massive margin of 79,702 votes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, however, the Left Front–Congress alliance made a comeback, with CPI(M)’s Mohd. Salim leading in the Raninagar segment by 721 votes. This was a reversal from 2019, when Trinamool led by 39,462 votes over Congress.

The BJP, traditionally weak in this Muslim-majority seat, saw a modest rise in 2021 by fielding a Muslim candidate, Masuara Khatun, who polled 9.53 per cent of the vote, up from 5.10 per cent in 2016 and 1.93 per cent in 2011 when it fielded Hindu candidates.

Topographically, Raninagar is situated in the Ganges-Bhagirathi basin, characterised by flat terrain and fertile alluvial soil. The region is prone to seasonal flooding due to its proximity to the Bhagirathi River and its distributaries. Agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, with paddy, jute, mustard and vegetables as the main crops. Livestock rearing and small-scale trade also contribute to livelihoods.

Infrastructure is modest. Roads connecting Raninagar to Domkal, Berhampore and Lalbagh are functional but suffer during monsoons. Electricity coverage is widespread, and mobile connectivity is stable. Water supply relies heavily on hand pumps and tubewells, with piped water available in select areas. Healthcare is served by rural health centres and sub-divisional hospitals in Domkal and Berhampore. Educational institutions include Raninagar College and several high schools.

Nearby towns include Domkal (18 km), Murshidabad (25 km), and Lalbagh (28 km). The district headquarters at Berhampore is 35 km southwest, while Kolkata lies approximately 225 km south. From adjoining districts, Raninagar borders Nadia to the south, with its district headquarters, Krishnanagar, about 98 km away, and Malda to the north, with Malda town located approximately 169 km from Raninagar. Across the international border, Rajshahi in Bangladesh is about 39 km northeast, Nawabganj is 45 km away, and Shibganj lies 56 km to the north.

Barring the unexpected, the Trinamool Congress is well poised to retain the seat in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP remains a marginal force, and the Left Front–Congress alliance, despite its recent flicker of revival, continues to struggle for relevance. Even if the Election Commission’s proposed Bihar-style Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls leads to the disenfranchisement of illegal Bangladeshi voters, it is unlikely to alter the constituency’s demographic character in any significant way.

(Ajay Jha)