Kolkata’s Behala West assembly constituency stands as a pivotal battleground in West Bengal’s dynamic political landscape. This general category urban seat, nestled within the Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency, has witnessed dramatic shifts over decades. Once a fortress of Left parties, it has transformed into a Trinamool Congress (TMC) stronghold since the early 2000s.
The electoral journey of Behala traces back to 1951 when the original Behala seat emerged. The All India Forward Block clinched victory in 1952, followed by CPI sweeps in 1957 and 1962. A major reconfiguration in 1967 split it into Behala East and West, a division that lasted until 2006. During this period, Left forces dominated, securing nine wins out of 11 elections.
The tide turned dramatically in 2001 when TMC’s Partha Chatterjee breached the Left bastion, going on to win repeatedly. Post-2011 delimitation, the seat was rechristened Behala West, encompassing Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards 118, 119, and 125 to 132. Chatterjee trounced CPM’s Anupam Debsarkar by 59,021 votes in 2011. The margin narrowed to 8,896 votes against CPM’s Soustav Chatterjee in 2016, yet TMC held firm. In 2021, he defeated BJP’s Shrabanti Chatterjee by 50,884 votes, marking TMC’s fifth straight assembly triumph here.
TMC’s grip extends to Lok Sabha polls too. From 2009 to 2024, the party led in four consecutive elections: 35,386 votes over CPM in 2009, 23,138 in 2014 against the same rival, 16,165 over BJP in 2019, and 15,196 in 2024. Voter numbers grew from 3,13,198 in 2021 to around 3,18,301 by 2024.
Polling trends show robust participation in assembly elections—77.83% in 2011, 75.49% in 2016, and 74.15% in 2021—contrasting with slightly lower Lok Sabha turnouts of 73.53% in 2019 and 69.16% in 2024.
Historically rich, Behala’s roots delve into colonial times, linked to zamindar families like Subarna Roy Choudhury. Along Diamond Harbour Road, landmarks such as Behala Chourasta, Sakher Bazar, Subarna Museum, vibrant Durga Puja pandals, and the Flying Club infuse life into the area. Excellent connectivity links it to Maidan and central Kolkata via Diamond Harbour Road, bolstered by the Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor. Howrah Station lies 10-12 km away, Sealdah 12-15 km, and Dum Dum Airport 25-30 km.
As 2026 looms, TMC appears unassailable, leading in nine straight contests (five assembly, four Lok Sabha). BJP’s challenge remains nascent, while the Left-Congress alliance fades into irrelevance. Behala West’s future hinges on whether the saffron wave can finally crack this TMC citadel.