Director Raj Chakraborty announces retirement from politics after election defeat

Staff Report: PNN

Film director and former legislator Raj Chakraborty has announced his withdrawal from politics after losing in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. In a statement on social media, he said his political journey ends with the 2026 election.

Raj Chakraborty joined politics in 2021 and was elected as a candidate of the Trinamool Congress from the Barrackpore constituency. He served as a legislator for five years and was active in promoting various social schemes of the West Bengal government.

In the recent election, he contested again from the same constituency but failed to win. Two days after the results, he officially announced his political position.

In his statement on social media, Raj wrote that he has always tried to fulfill responsibilities with sincerity and integrity. He said that as a filmmaker he has reached people through cinema and also tried to serve people through politics.

He added that people gave him the opportunity to serve in politics in 2021 and he tried to fulfill that responsibility for five years. However, his political journey ends with the 2026 election.

He also congratulated the winning Bharatiya Janata Party and expressed hope that the new government would work for the development of West Bengal and solve public issues.

During the election campaign, his rallies attracted large crowds and attention. However, on the day of counting, he also faced protests and slogans when leaving the counting center. Local reports alleged that objects, including mud, were thrown at him, though he did not comment publicly on the incident.

After his announcement, mixed reactions were seen on social media, with many supporters expressing a desire to see him more active again in filmmaking.