Maldaha (SC) Assembly Election 2026: Profile and Candidates

Constituency Overview & Geography

Maldaha Assembly Constituency, numbered AC 50, is a Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seat and carries the historic name of the district itself. It is the second SC-reserved seat in Malda alongside Gazole (AC 44), and politically one of the most interesting in the district.

The constituency covers Old Malda Municipality — a historic town distinct from the more modern English Bazar — along with Narhatta gram panchayat (English Bazar CD Block) and three panchayats from Habibpur CD Block (Aiho, Rishipur, Sreerampur). This mix of an old municipality and rural panchayats gives Maldaha a hybrid urban-rural character similar to English Bazar.

Old Malda has deep historical significance — it was the site of the original Malda town during Mughal and early colonial rule, with connections to the weaving trade and the historic transit routes of the region. The Mahananda river flows near the constituency, and the area has silk weaving traditions.

Maldaha Assembly Constituency falls under the Maldaha Uttar Lok Sabha constituency.

Voter & Demographic Profile

Population approximately 2,90,000 (2011 Census). As an SC-reserved seat, Scheduled Caste voters are structurally central. The Namasudra community and other SC groups are the plurality community. There is also a significant Muslim minority in the Habibpur panchayat areas.

The urban vote in Old Malda Municipality tends to be more aspirational and politically sophisticated than the rural panchayat vote. SC vote behaviour — whether it tracks welfare loyalty to TMC or Hindutva-identity alignment with BJP — is the decisive variable here.

Approx. Registered Voters: ~2,20,000 (2024 roll) Polling Stations: ~230

Full Election History (2001–2021)

Maldaha has seen intense competition between Congress and the Left since its formation as an SC-reserved seat, with results often reflecting which community-level network was more active.

2001 & 2006 — CPI(M) Holds Subhendu Chowdhury of CPI(M) won both the 2001 and 2006 elections, defeating Congress's Bhupendra Nath Halder and Phani Bhusan Roy respectively. The Left held Maldaha through its panchayat and trade union work in SC areas.

2011 — Congress Breaks Through Bhupendra Nath Halder of INC won Maldaha in 2011, defeating CPI(M)'s Rahul Ranjan Das. The Left's hold on SC communities was finally broken in the 2011 Congress-TMC wave context.

2016 — Congress Retains INC held Maldaha again in 2016 with Bhupendra Nath Halder retaining the seat. Congress remained the dominant force in this SC constituency through the mid-2010s.

2021 — BJP's Gopal Chandra Saha Wins In 2021, Gopal Chandra Saha of BJP won Maldaha (SC), defeating TMC's Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury. This was part of BJP's broad sweep of SC constituencies across Bengal in 2021, where the party's Hindutva narrative resonated strongly with SC voters who felt Congress and TMC were prioritising Muslim welfare over SC interests.

2026 Candidate Profiles

BJP Candidate: Gopal Chandra Saha — Sitting MLA Defends Gopal Chandra Saha, the sitting BJP MLA, is re-nominated. His challenge is the same as in all BJP SC-seat holds in Bengal: whether the welfare delivery of the state government (TMC) or the identity/national-level narrative (BJP) wins the SC electorate in 2026.

TMC Candidate: Lipika Barman Ghosh — Zilla Parishad President Enters the Fray TMC has fielded Lipika Barman Ghosh, currently serving as the Sabhadhipati (President) of Malda Zilla Parishad — the district's highest elected local government position. Prior to this, she served as Sabhapati of English Bazar Panchayat Samiti for five years, giving her substantial experience across both block and district levels of local governance. She replaces the 2021 candidate Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury. TMC's decision to field its Zilla Parishad president signals the importance the party places on reclaiming this SC seat from BJP.

Quick Reference Card — Maldaha AC 50

Parameter	Details
AC Number	50
District	Malda
Seat Type	Scheduled Caste (SC) Reserved
Lok Sabha Segment	Maldaha Uttar
Approx. Registered Voters	~2,20,000
2021 Winner	Gopal Chandra Saha (BJP)
2016 Winner	Bhupendra Nath Halder (INC)
2011 Winner	Bhupendra Nath Halder (INC)
2026 BJP Candidate	Gopal Chandra Saha (sitting MLA)
2026 TMC Candidate	Lipika Barman Ghosh
Voting Phase 2026	Phase 2 — April 29, 2026
Result Date	May 4, 2026

Note: Candidate lists are based on latest available announcements and may change as parties release final confirmations. As of now, official candidate names for Maldaha (SC) constituency in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Election have not been fully announced. Major parties like TMC, BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) are expected to contest.