Bhabanipur Becomes Epicentre of Bengal Poll Battle as Mamata vs Adhikari Clash Intensifies

Kolkata, March 2026 : The political spotlight in West Bengal has firmly shifted to the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, where a high-stakes contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is set to define the narrative of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Bhabanipur, one of the 294 constituencies going to polls next month, has emerged as the most closely watched battleground due to the direct face-off between the two seasoned rivals. Their political rivalry dates back to the 2021 Assembly elections, when Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Nandigram. Subsequently, Banerjee secured her Chief Ministerial position by winning a by-election from Bhabanipur.

Adhikari is once again contesting from Nandigram in East Midnapore district, alongside Bhabanipur, underlining the strategic importance of both constituencies for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Having previously represented Nandigram as a member of the Trinamool Congress and later as a BJP legislator, Adhikari’s dual candidature reflects the party’s aggressive approach.

Bhabanipur’s electoral dynamics are shaped significantly by its demographic composition. Around 76 per cent of voters are Hindus, including approximately 42 per cent Bengali-speaking and 34 per cent non-Bengali-speaking communities. Minority voters, predominantly Muslims, make up about 24 per cent of the electorate. This demographic mix has historically influenced voting patterns in the constituency.

The Trinamool Congress has traditionally relied on strong support from minority voters and Bengali-speaking Hindus to secure victories in Bhabanipur. On the other hand, a substantial section of non-Bengali-speaking Hindu voters has consistently leaned towards the BJP, making the seat politically competitive.

While Left parties have never established a strong foothold in Bhabanipur, the BJP has steadily expanded its presence since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The constituency, comprising eight wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, has witnessed the BJP gaining significant vote shares in several wards, particularly those with a lower concentration of minority voters.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite Trinamool Congress candidate Mala Roy retaining the Kolkata Dakshin seat, the party trailed in several Bhabanipur wards and in the neighbouring Rashbehari constituency. Notably, the party also lagged behind in Ward 73, where both Mamata Banerjee and party leader Abhishek Banerjee are registered voters, signalling a shift in voter sentiment.

Adding complexity to the contest is the impact of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Over 47,000 voters have been removed from the final rolls, while more than 14,000 remain under judicial scrutiny due to discrepancies. Reports suggest that many of these voters belonged to areas that previously delivered strong margins for the Trinamool Congress, potentially altering the electoral arithmetic.

Political observers view the BJP’s decision to field Adhikari against Banerjee in Bhabanipur as a calculated move. By engaging the Chief Minister in a direct contest, the party may limit her ability to campaign extensively across the state, thereby gaining a strategic advantage.

With both leaders commanding significant influence and the constituency’s complex voter profile in play, Bhabanipur is poised to be the defining battleground of the West Bengal elections, with implications that could extend well beyond the state’s political landscape.

Team Maverick