Aroop Biswas

TMC leader and state minister Aroop Biswas is contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Tollygunj constituency, a seat he has held for nearly two decades.

A four-time MLA and senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, Biswas has long been a dominant political figure in south Kolkata. He first won Tollygunj in 2006 and has retained it in every election since, turning the constituency into one of the TMC’s most reliable urban strongholds. In 2021, he secured a decisive victory over BJP’s Babul Supriyo by a margin of over 50,000 votes.

Tollygunj is not just a political base for Biswas but also a cultural hub, being the heart of Bengal’s film and television industry. His influence extends beyond electoral politics into Tollywood, where his brother Swaroop Biswas heads a powerful technicians’ union. Together, the Biswas brothers are widely perceived to wield significant control over the industry, shaping both its organisational and professional landscape.

Over the years, this dual influence has helped the TMC consolidate support among film workers and technicians. However, it has also drawn criticism, with sections of the industry and local residents alleging excessive political control and the presence of a “syndicate raj” in neighbourhood construction and real estate activities.

In the 2026 election, Biswas faces one of his toughest contests yet. The constituency is witnessing discontent over civic issues such as poor infrastructure and waterlogging, alongside anxieties about job scarcity that have driven younger residents to migrate out of the state. The recent revision of electoral rolls, which saw a sharp drop in the number of voters, has further fuelled unease among residents.

Despite these challenges, Biswas remains a central figure in Tollygunj’s political landscape.

Candidate Info: Aroop Biswas is the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate contesting from Tollyganj (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. This male candidate is 62 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.