Bhabanipur 2026: Mamata Trails Suvendu Adhikari in Early Vote Count

In one of West Bengal’s most consequential electoral battles, incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing a tough fight in her home turf of Bhabanipur. Early counting trends from the second round of EVM tallying show Banerjee trailing BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by over 1,500 votes, with 18 more rounds still remaining. The South Kolkata constituency has long been considered Banerjee’s political stronghold and a symbolic seat for the Trinamool Congress.

A Rivalry Rooted in Betrayal

What makes this contest especially charged is its deeply personal undercurrent. Adhikari was once a close confidant of Banerjee before switching allegiance to the BJP ahead of the 2021 elections. He went on to defeat Banerjee herself in Nandigram that year — a result that sent shockwaves through Bengal’s political landscape. Now, the two are locked in another direct contest, this time on Banerjee’s own turf.

Exit Polls Favour BJP

The broader picture in West Bengal also looks unfavourable for the ruling TMC. Most exit polls have predicted a BJP victory across the state, which would end 15 years of Trinamool Congress governance. If the trends hold, it would mark one of the most significant political shifts in Bengal’s recent history.

Bhabanipur, compact yet deeply symbolic, is being watched as a barometer of the state’s political mood. The final outcome remains uncertain as counting continues through the day.

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