7 things to watch out for in West Bengal this year

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is reaching its final phase, with the final roll scheduled for publication on February 14, 2026. The BJP has high hopes that the revised roll will remove alleged fake voters and illegal immigrants, benefiting the party.

Additionally, the BJP is focusing on the issue of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh as a key campaign issue for the 2026 Assembly Elections. The party alleges the TMC has facilitated infiltration for electoral gains, threatening national security and altering Bengal’s demography. BJP promises to identify and deport infiltrators, establishing a strong national grid to prevent further infiltration.

The ruling-TMC, meanwhile, is relying on its development initiatives and welfare schemes to sway voters,  with party leadership confident of a decisive victory. The party has a strong grip on the Muslim vote, which is a significant factor in the state’s electoral politics.

The party has set an ambitious goal of winning over 215 seats to ensure a decisive mandate and diminish the opposition’s presence.

Denying the BJP allegations, the TMC has questioned why infiltration is not a major issue in other states. It has framed the election as a battle to protect the “culture and identity” of Bengal from “outsiders”.

This year the election is more significant since it will be conducted with a new electoral roll and is expected to be marked by intense political rallies, conflicts, legal battles, and the formation of a new government.

Electoral Roll Publication

The SIR of the electoral rolls in West Bengal is reaching its final phase, with the final electoral roll scheduled for publication on February 14, 2026. Following the release of the draft roll on December 16, which saw a significant deletion of over 58 lakh names categorized as deceased, untraceable, or duplicates, the EC has moved into the hearing stage.

Throughout January and up until early February 2026, the authorities are conducting intensive verifications for approximately 31 lakh “unmapped” voters, who were unable to establish a link to the 2002 records. Now all eyes will be on how many voters are deleted in the final roll.

Metro expansion

Kolkata’s commute is set to change with the metro expansion project. The 32-km stretch from New Garia to the Airport is targeted to be operational by December 2026, connecting the IT hub directly to the airport. The stretch from the Airport to New Barrackpore on the yellow line is also scheduled to open around August 2026.

Kolkata Book Fair

The book fair is set to kick off on January 22 and will run until February 3, at Boimela Prangan in Salt Lake, Kolkata, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm daily. Argentina is the focal theme country this year, marking the first time a non-South Asian nation has taken center stage. The event will feature major publishing houses, including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Oxford University Press, and is expected to draw a large crowd of book lovers.

However, Bangladesh’s participation is uncertain due to the sensitive political situation. The Publishers and Booksellers Guild, which organizes the fair, informed Bangladeshi publishers that stall allocations require approval from the Indian government amid the sensitive political situation in their country. This marks the second consecutive year Bangladesh won’t have an official presence.

A record-breaking holiday calendar

The state government, this year also, has declared a record 51 public holidays for 2026, with a continuous shutdown from Mahalaya (October 10) to Chhath Puja (mid-November).

Restoring Salt Lake Stadium

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025 turned chaotic, with fans vandalizing parts of the stadium after getting frustrated with the lack of visibility. Angry fans, unable to get a clear view of the football star, vandalized parts of the stadium, breaking thousands of bucket seats and throwing bottles onto the pitch.

The stadium is set for repair and restoration work, estimated to cost Rs 4 crore. The Public Works Department has been cleared to start repairs in January 2026, and a significant portion of the stadium may need rebuilding.

T20 World Cup

Eden Gardens will host several matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in February and March, including a potential semi-final match. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Kolkata will be a major venue for the tournament, hosting several group-stage and a potential semi-final match.

The stage is set for an eventful 2026 in the state with politics, sports, and culture taking center stage.