Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate and State Minister Shashi Panja is seeking a fourth consecutive term from the Shyampukur Assembly constituency as West Bengal heads into a two-phased Assembly election on April 23 and 29.

Representing a key urban segment in North Kolkata, Panja faces Bharatiya Janata Party’s first-time candidate Poornima Chakraborty in what is expected to be a closely watched contest, even as the TMC attempts to retain its long-standing hold over the seat.

Shyampukur, a general category constituency under the Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha seat, holds significant political weight due to its urban character and historical electoral shifts. Shyampukur comprises of 11 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Historically, the seat witnessed prolonged dominance by the Forward Bloc, which won it 10 times, while Congress secured it on four occasions. However, since 2011, the Trinamool Congress has firmly established its grip over the constituency.

-ANI