Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) defeated incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) in the Bhabanipur constituency during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The result marks a historic political shift in the region, ending 15 years of rule by the Trinamool Congress and consolidating the BJP's influence in eastern India.
Reporting from the counting process in early May 2026 shows the BJP secured a sweeping victory across the state. The party won between 206 [1] and 207 [2] seats in the assembly. In contrast, the TMC won 80 seats [2].
The defeat of Mamata Banerjee in her own Bhabanipur bastion in Kolkata serves as the most prominent symbol of the BJP's surge. Adhikari's victory in the constituency was a central focus of the election results.
Analysts said the BJP's success was due to intensive ground work and a strategic campaign led by Amit Shah and a team of senior strategists. The victory was further bolstered by a reported shift in support among the Bhadralok elite, the traditional intellectual class of Bengal.
This outcome represents a complete reversal of the state's political landscape. The BJP's ability to breach previously secure TMC strongholds suggests a broad collapse of the incumbent's support base across various demographics.
“BJP ends 15 years of TMC rule”
The BJP's overwhelming majority and the specific defeat of Mamata Banerjee signify a collapse of the TMC's long-term hegemony in West Bengal. By capturing the Bhabanipur seat and securing over 200 seats, the BJP has transitioned from an opposition force to a dominant governing power, likely altering the political alignment of the region for the next several years.
