Bhabanipur Turns Tense as Mamata Trails Suvendu Adhikari in Nail-Biting Contest

Kolkata, May 2026 : A high-stakes electoral battle is unfolding in West Bengal’s prestigious Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trailing Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari by a narrow margin, with only a few rounds of counting remaining.

According to official figures released by the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, Banerjee was behind Adhikari by 563 votes at the end of the 16th round of counting. Banerjee secured 53,369 votes, while Adhikari edged ahead with 53,932 votes. The constituency is witnessing a tightly fought contest, with a total of 20 rounds scheduled, making the final outcome highly uncertain.

Bhabanipur, located in south Kolkata, has long been considered a stronghold for Mamata Banerjee. The current trend, however, signals a dramatic shift in voter sentiment and has turned the constituency into one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the state. The Chief Minister, after the 16th round of counting, left the counting centre at Shakhawat Memorial Government Girls’ School and returned to her residence in Kalighat. Before departing, she remarked that the overall results did not reflect the true mandate of the people.

The contest carries historical weight. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram by a narrow margin of under 2,000 votes. Banerjee later regained political ground by winning the Bhabanipur by-election with a commanding margin of nearly 59,000 votes, allowing her to continue as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term. The current reversal in Bhabanipur, therefore, marks a significant political moment.

Adding to the drama, Adhikari has already secured victory from his home turf, Nandigram constituency in East Midnapore district, where he contested simultaneously. His strong performance in Bhabanipur further underscores the Bharatiya Janata Party’s aggressive push in the state.

Statewide trends indicate a major political shift. The BJP is either leading or has won in 207 out of the 293 constituencies where counting has taken place. In comparison, the Trinamool Congress is trailing significantly with leads or wins in around 80 seats, while other parties, including the Left Front alliance and Congress, remain marginal players in this election.

The results have also dealt a blow to several senior leaders in the Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet. Prominent ministers such as Chandrima Bhattacharya, Dr Shashi Panja, Sujit Bose, and Bratya Basu have reportedly lost their seats, reflecting a broader electoral setback for the ruling party.

With just four rounds left in Bhabanipur, the contest remains on a knife’s edge. The final outcome will not only determine the fate of a key constituency but could also carry significant implications for the political future of West Bengal.