India, March 18 -- The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will contest 291 of West Bengal's 294 assembly seats in the two-phase polls, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday, dropping a significant number of sitting legislators and nominating a set of fresh faces in a bid to nix anti-incumbency and win a fourth consecutive term.

In a press conference at her Kalighat home, Banerjee fielded Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari's aide Pabitra Kar - who quit the BJP hours before her announcement-against him at East Midnapore district's Nandigram seat.

She also set up a face-off against Adhikari - a repeat of their 2021 battle in Nandigram that Adhikari won by 1,956 votes - by announcing that she will be seeking re-electio...