KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee faced a significant defeat on Monday in Bhowanipore, traditionally a stronghold for the Chief Minister of West Bengal, losing to her former protege Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes. This marked a notable shift in the political landscape after three terms in the role.
Banerjee expressed difficulty in accepting the results, alleging that the election had been compromised, claiming she and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) were defeated “by force.” She accused Adhikari’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating the election process and even alleged that she was assaulted by BJP supporters and central forces while exiting the Sakhawat Memorial High School counting center after nearly five hours of waiting.
The Election Commission reported that Adhikari secured 73,917 votes against Mamata’s 58,812, as she remained present at the counting center until it became evident she was trailing by over 10,994 votes after the 18th round of counting.
The atmosphere in Bhowanipore was charged with tension, rife with accusations and protests as the results fluctuated throughout the day. Initial rounds of counting favored Adhikari, who quickly built a lead. However, by the seventh round, Mamata had made a comeback, at one point leading by over 19,000 votes—creating the impression that she might secure victory.
That optimism was short-lived, as Adhikari regained ground, suggesting that Mamata’s earlier gains were largely from a minority-inhabited area. The vote gap narrowed to just over 7,000 votes by the twelfth round and eventually to 5,300, setting the stage for a tight finish reminiscent of their previous contest in 2021, where Mamata had lost to Adhikari in Nandigram, yet won Bhowanipore in a by-election later that year.
Tensions escalated when TMC alleged their counting agents were attacked and forcibly removed by BJP supporters. In response, Mamata had urged her party workers to “fight like a tiger cub” and remain at the counting tables until sunset. Upon her arrival at the venue around 3:30 PM, she faced hostile chants from BJP supporters, and Abhishek Banerjee, TMC’s general secretary and Mamata’s nephew, was also reportedly subjected to abuse.
Mamata stayed at the center until 8 PM before being escorted out by central forces, reiterating her claims of being “assaulted” and alleging that the BJP had “looted over 100 seats.” Despite the setback, she committed to the idea that the TMC would return to power. In the aftermath, TMC offices fell quiet, with one party worker silently removing the party symbol from his shirt.
