Suvendu Adhikari Retains Bhabanipur Seat Ahead of 2026 West Bengal Elections

In a significant political maneuver, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to retain the Bhabanipur assembly seat while vacating Nandigram ahead of the 2026 elections. His recent victory over TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, marked by a margin of over 15,000 votes, has ignited intense political discussions. Analysts view this decision as a strategic move that underscores a potential shift in voter sentiment in Bengal, with implications for the BJP's standing in the region. Adhikari's win in Bhabanipur, a traditional TMC stronghold, is seen as a crucial victory that could reshape the political landscape in West Bengal.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 13, 2026, 17:32 IST

Political Shift in West Bengal

Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has decided to maintain his focus on the Bhabanipur assembly constituency after winning both seats in the upcoming 2026 elections, while vacating the Nandigram seat. This decision follows his significant victory over TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, who has long been associated with Bhabanipur, a stronghold for the TMC.

Adhikari's triumph in Bhabanipur has sparked intense political discussions across West Bengal. He defeated Banerjee by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes, delivering a substantial political blow to the TMC chief in her traditional bastion. The Bhabanipur seat has been closely linked to Banerjee for years and is viewed as a symbol of TMC's dominance in Kolkata. After losing to Adhikari in Nandigram during the 2021 assembly elections, Banerjee successfully returned as Chief Minister by winning the Bhabanipur by-election.

The BJP's potential success in the 2026 elections is now seen as a pivotal moment in Bengal's political landscape, with party leaders presenting it as evidence of a significant shift in voter sentiment. Political analysts suggest that Adhikari's decision to retain the Bhabanipur seat is tied to the broader political implications of this victory. Defeating Banerjee in a seat considered a TMC stronghold is viewed as more crucial than holding onto Nandigram, where the BJP has already established a solid foothold.

Adhikari's victory in Bhabanipur, achieved by a much larger margin than in Nandigram, further solidifies his representation of the Kolkata constituency in the assembly.