Pabitra Kar is a politician from West Bengal and a senior leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), who is contesting the 2026 assembly elections from Nandigram. Once a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari, Kar’s political journey has come full circle as he now stands against his former mentor in one of the most prominent election battles in the state. His return to the TMC has made him a major rival of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the constituency.
After 17 rounds of counting, Kar trails Adhikari by more than 6,000 votes. He received 112,642 votes, while the latter received 118,947 votes.
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Early life of Pabitra Kar
Pabitra Kar is a grassroots leader who rose through the local government structures of Purba Medinipur district. He served as a pradhan in Boyal-1 gram panchayat in Nandigram-II block, building a strong local base over the years. With a formal education through the 10th grade, Carr’s political growth was largely driven by on-the-ground organizing work and mobilization.
He was once associated with the TMC but defected to the BJP in November 2020 ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, joining a wave of leaders who have switched sides along with Suvendu Adhikari. Within the BJP, Kar served as vice president of the party’s Tamluk organizational district and was known for his expertise in booth level management. His role in strengthening the BJP’s grassroots network in Nandigram contributed to the party’s strong performance in the 2021 elections. In 2026, he returned to the TMC, marking another significant political shift in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
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About the electoral district
Nandigram, located in Purba Medinipur district, is one of the most politically sensitive constituencies in West Bengal. She gained national prominence during the anti-land acquisition movement of 2007, playing a key role in the rise of Mamata Banerjee and the eventual decline of the Left Front government in 2011.
The constituency is part of the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and has a predominantly rural electorate, and politics is often shaped by agricultural concerns, local government issues, and party organization at booth level. Over the past decade, Nandigram has evolved into a prestige battleground between the TMC and the BJP, reflecting the broader bipolar competition in West Bengal politics. High voter turnout and intense campaigning have become hallmarks of elections for the seat
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What happened in the previous elections?
The 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections in Nandigram were among the most high-profile contests in modern Indian political history. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee contested from the seat against her former aide Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP months before the elections.
In a close fight, Adhikari defeated Banerjee by a margin of about 1,956 votes, according to Election Commission data. Despite losing the seat, the Banerjee-led TMC achieved a landslide victory at the state level, winning 213 of the 294 seats, while the BJP emerged as the main opposition with 77 seats.
The Nandigram result highlighted the BJP’s growing influence in certain pockets of the state, even as the TMC retained overall dominance. The 2026 contest, pitting Pabitra Kar against Suvendu Adhikari, is being closely watched as a rematch of the political forces that shaped the 2021 election, with both parties aiming to consolidate their support bases in a constituency that still holds significant political significance.
