Suvendu Adhikari calls toppling Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur 'crucial' in BJP's Bengal surge

Kolkata, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday described his victory over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur as "very important", calling it a decisive political moment as he secured the seat by a margin of over 15,000 votes.

Holding up his winning certificate after the result was declared, the leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly said defeating Banerjee in her home turf carried both symbolic and strategic significance.

"This was very important. Defeating Mamata Banerjee was crucial," Adhikari said, adding that the result marked what he termed the end of her political innings.


The BJP leader, who had also defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly polls, said the Bhabanipur outcome reflected a consolidation of support across communities in his favour.

Claiming a broad social coalition behind his victory, Adhikari said voters from multiple communities backed him, while also asserting that minority voters had largely supported the TMC supremo.

"This victory is a victory for Hindutva," he said, attributing his win to support from what he described as a wide spectrum of voters, including those traditionally aligned with other political formations.

He also claimed that a section of the Left electorate backed him in the constituency, helping consolidate the anti-TMC vote.

Adhikari said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had been in touch with him during the counting process and had expressed concern over the high-profile contest.

"He called me two or three times. I will speak to him now," Adhikari said, adding that he was unable to communicate earlier as mobile phone use was restricted inside the counting centre.

The BJP leader's victory in Bhabanipur comes amid a sweeping performance by the party across West Bengal, where it is set to form its first government, ending the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule.

The defeat of Banerjee in Bhabanipur, long considered her political stronghold, adds a significant layer of symbolism to the BJP's broader electoral surge in the state.