AISF Unveils Candidates for 23 Assembly Seats in West Bengal Elections
Synopsis
The All India Secular Front (AISF) has announced its candidates for 23 assembly seats in the upcoming West Bengal elections, marking a strategic alliance with the Left Front amid ongoing disputes with the Forward Bloc.
Key Takeaways
AISF has announced candidates for 23 assembly constituencies .
The party is in a seat-sharing arrangement with the CPI(M)-led Left Front .
Nawsad Siddique is re-nominated from Bhangar .
Internal disagreements with the All India Forward Bloc pose challenges to the alliance.
Congress is contesting independently in all 294 constituencies .
Kolkata, March 23 (NationPress) The All India Secular Front (AISF) has officially revealed its candidates for 23 assembly constituencies in the upcoming two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for next month.
Initially, AISF had planned to announce candidates for all 33 constituencies it is contesting, but ultimately decided to disclose only 23.
“This election, our party is participating in a seat-sharing agreement with the CPI(M)-led Left Front. We have requested 33 assembly constituencies. A consensus was reached on 29, while four constituencies remain contentious. We anticipate resolving these issues soon, hence today we announce our candidates for 23 constituencies,” stated an AISF representative.
Nawsad Siddique, the sole AISF member in West Bengal, has been renominated from Bhangar in the South 24 Parganas district, where he won in 2021. His main opponent in this minority-majority area is Saukat Molla from the Trinamool Congress.
Molla, a two-term MLA from the nearby Canning (Purba) constituency, is now contesting from Bhangar. The BJP candidate is Jayanta Gayen, while the Congress has yet to announce its candidate for Bhangar.
In Canning (Purba), AISF has nominated Arabul Islam, a notable former Trinamool Congress leader and a prior legislator from Bhangar, who joined AISF after leaving the ruling party.
The principal obstacle to a harmonious AISF-Left Front partnership is the All India Forward Bloc, which has consistently opposed this alliance. Notably, the four assembly seats where disagreements persist are those where the Forward Bloc insists on fielding its candidates.
During the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, there was a tripartite alliance among Congress, Left Front, and AISF. While neither Left Front nor Congress managed to secure a single MLA, Nawsad Siddique emerged as the only AISF representative in the Assembly after winning from Bhangar.
This time, Congress has opted for an independent strategy, fielding candidates in all 294 assembly constituencies across West Bengal.
Point of View
The AISF's strategic alliances and candidate selections underscore the dynamic nature of regional politics, reflecting both cooperation and contention among parties. Observers should watch how these alliances impact voter sentiment in the upcoming elections.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the West Bengal Assembly elections?
The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled for next month, involving a two-phase voting process.
Who is Nawsad Siddique?
Nawsad Siddique is the only AISF representative in the West Bengal Assembly, having won from Bhangar in the 2021 elections.
What challenges does AISF face in the elections?
AISF faces challenges within its alliance with the Left Front, particularly from the All India Forward Bloc, which opposes the partnership.
How many constituencies is AISF contesting?
AISF is contesting in 33 assembly constituencies but has announced candidates for only 23 so far.
