Suvendu Adhikari Defeats Mamata Banerjee Even in Her Own Ward in Bhabanipur

In a stunning political upset, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency, fulfilling Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s pre-poll promise to “defeat Mamata in her own turf.” The victory was as comprehensive as it was symbolic — Adhikari won even Ward No. 73, the very ward housing Mamata’s Kalighat residence, securing 8,932 votes against her 4,284.

A Sweep Across the Constituency

Booth-wise data released by the Election Commission revealed the staggering scale of Adhikari’s dominance. He led in 207 of Bhabanipur’s 267 booths, capturing 63% of the overall vote share while Mamata managed a mere 30%. In several booths with 400 to 700 registered voters, Mamata received fewer than 50 votes — and in some cases, as few as 28 to 31. The final tally stood at 73,917 votes for Adhikari against Mamata’s 58,812.

An Outsider Who Conquered Enemy Territory

What makes the result even more remarkable is that Adhikari, a resident of Kanthi nearly 150 kilometres away, had no prior organisational presence or political base in south Kolkata. Despite this, he dismantled Mamata’s grip on a constituency she had swept entirely during the 2021 bypoll — a contest she had entered after losing to Adhikari in his Nandigram stronghold. This time, the tables turned decisively, marking one of the most significant shifts in recent West Bengal political history.