The first phase of polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections will take place on April 23, involving 152 constituencies across 16 districts. This phase features a total of 1,478 candidates from various political parties and independent backgrounds. Key constituencies include Nandigram, where Suvendu Adhikari (Bharatiya Janata Party) faces off against his former confidant, Pabitra Kar (All India Trinamool Congress). In Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir, a former TMC MLA, is running as an independent candidate. Other notable candidates include Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of the Indian National Congress in Baharampur and Nishith Pramanik of the BJP in Mathabhanga. The elections are set against a backdrop of intense political rivalry, with candidates from major parties and smaller outfits competing for voter support.