Raj Chakraborty, a Bengali filmmaker and former MLA for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), announced his departure from politics after losing the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections in Barrackpur. He lost to BJP candidate Kaustuv Bagchi by more than 15,000 votes. In a heartfelt social media post, Chakraborty thanked those who supported him throughout his political journey and expressed his desire to return to filmmaking and spend more time with his family. His exit comes shortly after the BJP's significant victory in the elections, which ended the TMC's 15-year rule in West Bengal, where the BJP secured over 207 seats in the 294-member assembly. Chakraborty, who had joined the TMC before the 2021 elections and won from Barrackpur, remained active in politics while continuing his film career. His announcement was further highlighted by viral videos showing public dissatisfaction as he left the counting center after his defeat.