Kolkata, May 4: The results for the Bhawanipur constituency in West Bengal are in, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lost the election. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari defeated Banerjee by a margin of 15,105 votes. This marks the second time she has faced defeat at the hands of Adhikari.
With the election results, Bhawanipur has once again become a focal point in state politics. Mamata Banerjee has previously served as the MLA from this seat, which has long been considered a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Voting for this assembly constituency took place in the second phase on April 29.
Banerjee’s defeat in this election mirrors the results of the 2021 assembly elections, where she also lost from the Nandigram seat to Suvendu Adhikari.
This loss is significant for Banerjee, as Adhikari was once one of her close aides. He played a crucial role during the Nandigram and Singur movements that helped elevate Banerjee’s political career. However, over time, Adhikari parted ways with her and joined the BJP.
Notably, Banerjee has now lost to Adhikari in two consecutive elections. After her defeat in Nandigram in 2021, she turned her attention to Bhawanipur, where she won a by-election to retain power.
In this election, Adhikari announced his candidacy for both Nandigram and Bhawanipur. Prior to the results, he consistently claimed he would win in Bhawanipur, a prediction that came true on the evening of May 4.
The history of Bhawanipur has been politically tumultuous since its inception in 1951. Initially dominated by Congress, the seat has also seen victories from leftist parties. It was known as Kalighat for a period before re-emerging in 2009-2011. Since 2011, it has remained a TMC stronghold, but the 2026 election results have once again shaken that foundation.
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