BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said Mamata Banerjee is losing support among Hindu voters and that he is poised to win the Bhabanipur assembly seat.

This confrontation highlights the intense rivalry between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in a key constituency. The result in Bhabanipur could serve as a bellwether for the broader shift in voter sentiment across West Bengal.

Adhikari said these statements during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, which saw voting in 142 constituencies [2]. The Phase 2 voting date was April 29, 2026 [1]. Adhikari said that the Chief Minister's campaign is failing to resonate with the electorate.

"I see that voting is going well... The public has woken up, she (Mamata Banerjee) is going," Adhikari said.

While Adhikari asserts a lead in seven wards, external projections vary. An opinion poll by Matrize suggests a close contest between the BJP and TMC. Other analysts suggest that Banerjee (TMC) could still retain her seat through strategic campaigning.

Security remained a concern throughout the voting process. Reports from the Bhabanipur constituency indicated tensions, including a bomb scare and police lathicharge during the voting period. These incidents occurred as supporters of both parties clashed in the streets.

Official results for both phases of the election are scheduled for release on May 4, 2026 [3].

“"I see that voting is going well... The public has woken up, she (Mamata Banerjee) is going."”

The clash in Bhabanipur represents more than a local seat battle; it is a direct proxy war between the state's most prominent political figures. Adhikari's focus on Hindu voter sentiment suggests the BJP is attempting to consolidate a religious voting bloc to dismantle the TMC's regional stronghold. The discrepancy between Adhikari's claims and Matrize's close-contest projection indicates a highly volatile electorate where small shifts in turnout could determine the winner.