Mamata Banerjee lost her home constituency of Bhabanipur to BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes. This marks a significant shift in West Bengal politics.
As of early Tuesday, Adhikari secured 73,917 votes, while Banerjee received 58,812 votes. The voter turnout reached an impressive 92.47 percent, the highest since Independence.
This loss is monumental for Banerjee, who has served as Chief Minister for three terms. She previously won Bhowanipore in a bypoll after losing to Adhikari in Nandigram.
Banerjee claimed that the election process was manipulated and that votes were looted by the BJP. Her party, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), expressed dismay at the results.
Key outcomes:
- BJP won 177 seats and led in 31 seats out of a total of 293 assembly seats.
- TMC managed to win only 61 seats and led in 18 seats.
- Repolling occurred in several booths across Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour.
A TMC worker stated, “We have nothing to say,” reflecting the party’s shock. Despite this defeat, Banerjee remains hopeful about returning to power.
Suvendu Adhikari’s victory underscores a shifting political landscape in West Bengal. Analysts suggest that this could reshape future elections in the region.
The next steps for Banerjee and TMC remain uncertain as they grapple with this unexpected defeat.
