Why Mamata lost Bhabanipur prestige battle to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari

The BJP has already made history in West Bengal.

After winning a massive 209 seats in the 148-seat Assembly, the party will form the government in the state for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a victory for democracy and hailed the BJP’s lotus for “blooming everywhere”.

Yet, the focus remained on Bhabanipur, where a see-saw battle unfolded between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Now, Mamata Banerjee has been defeated by Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.

But why does this result in Bhabanipur matter for Mamata and Adhikari? How and why did Mamata lose the prestige battle to Adhikari?

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Let's take a closer look:

What happened

Bhabanipur became the defining contest of the day.

After 20 rounds:

Adhikari — 73,463 votes.

Mamata — 58,349 votes.

Margin — over 15,000 votes.

The big picture: Experts point to multiple factors — the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case impacting her image on women’s safety, the SIR process and voter scrutiny, Bhabanipur’s demographic composition, and a wider anti-incumbency wave against the TMC.

For Mamata

For Mamata 

For Mamata, the significance of losing Bhabanipur cannot be overstated. The constituency was considered her home bastion in south Kolkata and a veritable fortress, having been a Trinamool Congress seat since 2011.

Mamata had returned to Bhabanipur after her narrow defeat in Nandigram in 2021, where she lost to Adhikari by less than 2,000 votes. She subsequently won Bhabanipur by a large margin to retain her position as chief minister. The constituency includes Kalighat, where she resides, and where she first developed her political base as a Youth Congress leader.

For Mamata Banerjee, the significance of losing Bhabanipur cannot be overstated. PTI

What changed: This time, the trend shifted. Analysts highlight anti-incumbency, voter scrutiny, demographic factors, and BJP vote consolidation as key reasons. The defeat — at the hands of a former trusted lieutenant — may signal a broader political shift in Bengal.

For Adhikari

For Adhikari, the victory is significant both symbolically and politically. Defeating Mamata in her stronghold reinforces the BJP’s argument that her dominance in West Bengal may be waning.

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari has now defeated Mamata Banerjee twice in a head-to-head battle. File image/PTI

The BJP had pushed for this direct contest, with Adhikari contesting both Nandigram and Bhabanipur. The strategy was to keep Mamata on the defensive, limit her statewide influence, and reduce her impact on other TMC candidates.

The takeaway: The result delivers not just a win, but also a psychological advantage for the BJP.

Suryaneel Suvendu, chief election agent, confirmed the outcome, saying: “We have won by more than 15,000 votes. Mamata Banerjee has done drama here.”

How the counting unfolded

The counting process was marked by sharp swings.

Early trend: Mamata led, building a 1,996-vote advantage in the first round. Adhikari briefly moved ahead in the second round by 1,558 votes. By the seventh round, Mamata had extended her lead to over 17,000 votes.

The shift: The margin steadily narrowed — 15,494 after the eighth round, 12,131 after the tenth, and 7,184 after the twelfth. By the fourteenth round, the lead had dropped to 3,830 votes.

Endgame: By round sixteen, Mamata was trailing by 563 votes. From there, Adhikari maintained the lead and went on to win.

What she said: Bhabanipur witnessed intense activity throughout the day, with both leaders present at the counting centre. Mamata later questioned the credibility of the process, calling it an “immoral victory” and alleging irregularities. “We will bounce back,” she said, accusing the Election Commission of bias and claiming that complaints had not been addressed. She also alleged that she was “pushed and berated” inside the counting centre.

FAQs

1. Why is Mamata Banerjee’s loss in Bhabanipur important?

Because it was her stronghold, making the defeat both politically and symbolically significant.

2. What factors contributed to her defeat?

Anti-incumbency, voter scrutiny, demographic factors, and the impact of the RG Kar Medical College case are seen as key reasons.

3. What does this result mean for the BJP?

It strengthens the BJP’s position in West Bengal and suggests a possible shift in the state’s political landscape.

With inputs from agencies