Suvendu Adhikari's Stunning Victory Over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur
Political Upset in West Bengal
In a surprising turn of events in West Bengal's political landscape, Suvendu Adhikari, a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the newly appointed Chief Minister, has dealt a significant blow to Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. Not only did he defeat her in the Bhabanipur constituency, but he also triumphed in her home ward, marking one of the most symbolic shifts in the state's recent political history. The scale of this decisive outcome is highlighted by booth-level data released by the Election Commission, which has astonished even seasoned political analysts, given that Bhabanipur was considered a stronghold for the Trinamool Congress.
The most shocking results emerged from Ward 73, which encompasses the area around Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, Kolkata. Here, Adhikari secured 8,932 votes, while Banerjee managed only 4,284, indicating a significant shift in voter sentiment in her own neighborhood. Across the entire constituency, Adhikari won 207 out of 267 polling stations, garnering nearly 63% of the total votes. In contrast, Banerjee's vote share was approximately 30%, a rare defeat in a seat where she once held complete dominance.
The booth data further clarifies Banerjee's crushing defeat. In Booth 14, she received just 43 votes; in Booth 16, 42 votes; in Booth 20, 41 votes; and in Booth 105, a mere 31 votes. Similar low vote counts were observed at several other booths, painting a picture of an unprecedented reversal against her. This upset is particularly dramatic compared to the 2021 by-elections, where Banerjee easily won all seven wards in the constituency after her defeat in Nandigram. This time, however, Adhikari has dismantled the party's grip on one of its safest urban seats. In the final tally, Banerjee received 58,812 votes, while Adhikari surpassed 73,000, winning by a margin of over 15,000 votes.
It is noteworthy that the upcoming 2026 assembly elections have the potential to reshape the state's political landscape, with the BJP having secured 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, a significant increase from its previous 77 seats. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, which dominated the last assembly with 212 seats, has dwindled to just 80.