Some of the richest candidates in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls are the beedi barons of Murshidabad district who are contesting from one of the poorest areas of the State, highlighting a massive gap between political wealth and worker distress.
According to an analysis of candidates’ wealth done by the Association for Democratic Reforms and West Bengal Election Watch, it shows that Jakir Hossain, a beedi baron from Murshidabad’s Jangipur constituency fielded by the Trinamool Congress, is the richest candidate in the fray and has assets worth ₹133 crores.