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No words can fully capture the scale of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s setback, more than the fact that its supremo and the state’s very own “Didi”, Mamata Banerjee, has lost her own bastion of Bhabhanipur. In 2021, when the TMC chief held the seat, there was a loud chorus of confidence that no one could defeat her in Bhabhanipur. But as the saying goes, no throne lasts forever. Even the strongest fortresses eventually show cracks, and West Bengal’s “Didi” has now seen her fort fall.
Mamata Banerjee lost Bhabhanipur to the Bharatiya Janata Party's Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes, a stunning blow that political analysts argue may signal a larger political shift sweeping across the state. The BJP has swept the West Bengal elections, marking what many observers describe as a decisive break from an era long dominated by the TMC.
The 71-year-old leader, who fought hard to retain her grip on power and secure a fourth consecutive term, has been defeated in a verdict that leaves little room for doubt. What once looked like an unshakeable stronghold has now been overturned, as analysts point to a significant political realignment in the state.
For the TMC and Mamata Banerjee, this is being seen as a moment of reckoning. As the dust settles, the party may be forced to turn inward and confront the cracks that may have contributed to this defeat. Before that, it is worth taking a closer look at the factors that may have played a role in this setback.
<h2>1) SIR and the electoral reshaping of West Bengal</h2>
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as one of the most closely watched factors in West Bengal’s electoral outcome, with its scale, distribution and political interpretation now forming a key part of the post-poll narrative.
Nearly 91 lakh names were deleted from the state’s electoral rolls during the exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India, immediately triggering political debate over its impact on voter composition and electoral outcomes.
Official data indicates that around 63 lakh names were removed in the initial phase, followed by nearly 27 lakh voters declared ineligible after judicial scrutiny. The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise was aimed at cleaning up the rolls by removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, shifted individuals and other ineligible names.
However, the geographical spread of deletions has added a sharper political edge. Districts such as Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Malda, Nadia and South 24 Parganas recorded some of the highest numbers of deletions. In Kolkata, nearly seven lakh voters were removed.
The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the exercise disproportionately impacted minorities, migrant workers and economically weaker sections, arguing that the scale of deletions may have influenced outcomes in tightly contested constituencies.
The BJP has defended the revision, calling it a necessary clean-up to remove bogus and illegal entries and strengthen electoral integrity. The opposing interpretations have effectively turned the SIR into a central political flashpoint. 
<blockquote>BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure.
They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium… <a href="https://t.co/EJU8CRncE2">pic.twitter.com/EJU8CRncE2</a>
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/AITCofficial/status/2049938684871631136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the TMC wrote: “BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure. They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium strongroom to tamper with EVMs, only for Smt. @MamataOfficial to anticipate and foil their dirty tricks.”
As counting trends and results were analysed, several constituencies with high deletion intensity came under scrutiny for unexpected outcomes and swings. Analysts also argue that in some of these seats, deletion figures and victory margins appeared to overlap, though a direct causal link remains debated.
In Jangipur, TMC candidate Jakir Hussain lost to BJP’s Chitto Mukherjee. In Katwa, six time MLA Rabindranath Chatterjee was defeated by BJP’s Krishna Ghosh. In Noapara, Arjun Singh secured victory on a BJP ticket after multiple party switches between BJP and TMC over the years. In Chunchura, BJP’s Subir Nag defeated TMC’s Debangshu Bhattacharya, known for popularising the “khela hobe” (the game is on) slogan during earlier campaigns.
In Murshidabad’s Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir, a former police officer turned politician who later floated his own outfit after breaking away from the TMC, registered a win. In Kushmandi, BJP candidate Tapas Roy defeated the TMC nominee, marking a notable shift in a seat he had earlier represented during his long association with the party before switching sides. In Katwa, the defeat of Rabindranath Chatterjee, a six time TMC legislator, stood out as one of the most significant losses for the party.
In Bongaon Dakshin, 26-year-old influencer Rituparna Addhya lost to BJP’s Swapan Majumder. In Purbasthali Uttar, TMC’s Swapan Debnath lost despite earlier narrow margins, even as the constituency reportedly saw over 11,000 voter deletions during the SIR process. In Nandigram and surrounding politically sensitive belts, analysts also flagged close contests where deletion figures and swing margins appeared to overlap.
What has emerged is that the SIR has moved beyond a technical exercise and now sits at the centre of a political argument over whether it may have acted as a structural factor in TMC’s electoral performance.
<h2>2) Ticket denial to sitting MLAs not going in favour</h2>
Another factor being cited is Mamata Banerjee’s decision to drop many sitting MLAs in an effort to counter anti-incumbency. The party replaced several experienced candidates with new faces.
Soon after the announcement of candidates for 291 of the 294 seats, internal dissatisfaction surfaced. Around 74 outgoing MLAs were denied tickets, leading to resignations and public discontent.
In Rajganj, four-time MLA Khageswar Roy was replaced. The party fielded Swapna Barman instead, who later lost to BJP’s Dinesh Sarkar by over 21,000 votes. Similar changes were made in constituencies such as Uttarpara, Chunchura, Behala Paschim, Behala Purba, Jorasanko and Beliaghata, where the newly fielded candidates lost the elections.
Political observers say these results have strengthened the argument that large-scale replacement of sitting MLAs may have weakened the party’s local organisational strength.
<h2>3) The slow pinch of Congress</h2>
Congress’s independent contest had a limited but potentially decisive impact. With 2.98 per cent vote share and two seats, it fragmented anti-BJP and minority votes in over 50 marginal constituencies, particularly in Malda, Murshidabad and parts of North Bengal.
In several closely fought seats, even small Congress vote shares exceeded victory margins.
Analysts suggest this could have indirectly aided BJP’s surge while affecting TMC’s consolidation.
<h2>4) Perception of centralisation and Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks</h2>
In a politically aware state, a section of voters was increasingly seen as viewing the TMC as moving towards a more centralised structure.
Mamata Banerjee, once seen as an outsider to traditional political networks, was gradually perceived by some as concentrating decision-making within a smaller circle. Attention also increasingly focused on her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.
This perception had been flagged earlier by Suvendu Adhikari after his exit. The idea of a “bhaipo sarkar” (nephew’s government) entered political discourse over time.
Some analysts note that such perceptions, whether accurate or amplified politically, may have influenced voter sentiment in certain segments.
These factors may or may not have contributed to TMC’s electoral outcome. However, the results clearly indicate that something did not go as expected for the party, even as analysts describe the outcome as a significant political shift, with the BJP expanding its footprint across the state.

No words can fully capture the scale of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s setback, more than the fact that its supremo and the state’s very own “Didi”, Mamata Banerjee, has lost her own bastion of Bhabhanipur. In 2021, when the TMC chief held the seat, there was a loud chorus of confidence that no one could defeat her in Bhabhanipur. But as the saying goes, no throne lasts forever. Even the strongest fortresses eventually show cracks, and West Bengal’s “Didi” has now seen her fort fall.Mamata Banerjee lost Bhabhanipur to the Bharatiya Janata Party's Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes, a stunning blow that political analysts argue may signal a larger political shift sweeping across the state. The BJP has swept the West Bengal elections, marking what many observers describe as a decisive break from an era long dominated by the TMC.The 71-year-old leader, who fought hard to retain her grip on power and secure a fourth consecutive term, has been defeated in a verdict that leaves little room for doubt. What once looked like an unshakeable stronghold has now been overturned, as analysts point to a significant political realignment in the state.For the TMC and Mamata Banerjee, this is being seen as a moment of reckoning. As the dust settles, the party may be forced to turn inward and confront the cracks that may have contributed to this defeat. Before that, it is worth taking a closer look at the factors that may have played a role in this setback.1) SIR and the electoral reshaping of West BengalThe Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as one of the most closely watched factors in West Bengal’s electoral outcome, with its scale, distribution and political interpretation now forming a key part of the post-poll narrative.Nearly 91 lakh names were deleted from the state’s electoral rolls during the exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India, immediately triggering political debate over its impact on voter composition and electoral outcomes.Official data indicates that around 63 lakh names were removed in the initial phase, followed by nearly 27 lakh voters declared ineligible after judicial scrutiny. The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise was aimed at cleaning up the rolls by removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, shifted individuals and other ineligible names.However, the geographical spread of deletions has added a sharper political edge. Districts such as Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Malda, Nadia and South 24 Parganas recorded some of the highest numbers of deletions. In Kolkata, nearly seven lakh voters were removed.The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the exercise disproportionately impacted minorities, migrant workers and economically weaker sections, arguing that the scale of deletions may have influenced outcomes in tightly contested constituencies.The BJP has defended the revision, calling it a necessary clean-up to remove bogus and illegal entries and strengthen electoral integrity. The opposing interpretations have effectively turned the SIR into a central political flashpoint. BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure.They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium… pic.twitter.com/EJU8CRncE2— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 30, 2026In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the TMC wrote: “BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure. They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium strongroom to tamper with EVMs, only for Smt. @MamataOfficial to anticipate and foil their dirty tricks.”As counting trends and results were analysed, several constituencies with high deletion intensity came under scrutiny for unexpected outcomes and swings. Analysts also argue that in some of these seats, deletion figures and victory margins appeared to overlap, though a direct causal link remains debated.In Jangipur, TMC candidate Jakir Hussain lost to BJP’s Chitto Mukherjee. In Katwa, six time MLA Rabindranath Chatterjee was defeated by BJP’s Krishna Ghosh. In Noapara, Arjun Singh secured victory on a BJP ticket after multiple party switches between BJP and TMC over the years. In Chunchura, BJP’s Subir Nag defeated TMC’s Debangshu Bhattacharya, known for popularising the “khela hobe” (the game is on) slogan during earlier campaigns.In Murshidabad’s Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir, a former police officer turned politician who later floated his own outfit after breaking away from the TMC, registered a win. In Kushmandi, BJP candidate Tapas Roy defeated the TMC nominee, marking a notable shift in a seat he had earlier represented during his long association with the party before switching sides. In Katwa, the defeat of Rabindranath Chatterjee, a six time TMC legislator, stood out as one of the most significant losses for the party.In Bongaon Dakshin, 26-year-old influencer Rituparna Addhya lost to BJP’s Swapan Majumder. In Purbasthali Uttar, TMC’s Swapan Debnath lost despite earlier narrow margins, even as the constituency reportedly saw over 11,000 voter deletions during the SIR process. In Nandigram and surrounding politically sensitive belts, analysts also flagged close contests where deletion figures and swing margins appeared to overlap.What has emerged is that the SIR has moved beyond a technical exercise and now sits at the centre of a political argument over whether it may have acted as a structural factor in TMC’s electoral performance.2) Ticket denial to sitting MLAs not going in favourAnother factor being cited is Mamata Banerjee’s decision to drop many sitting MLAs in an effort to counter anti-incumbency. The party replaced several experienced candidates with new faces.Soon after the announcement of candidates for 291 of the 294 seats, internal dissatisfaction surfaced. Around 74 outgoing MLAs were denied tickets, leading to resignations and public discontent.In Rajganj, four-time MLA Khageswar Roy was replaced. The party fielded Swapna Barman instead, who later lost to BJP’s Dinesh Sarkar by over 21,000 votes. Similar changes were made in constituencies such as Uttarpara, Chunchura, Behala Paschim, Behala Purba, Jorasanko and Beliaghata, where the newly fielded candidates lost the elections.Political observers say these results have strengthened the argument that large-scale replacement of sitting MLAs may have weakened the party’s local organisational strength.3) The slow pinch of CongressCongress’s independent contest had a limited but potentially decisive impact. With 2.98 per cent vote share and two seats, it fragmented anti-BJP and minority votes in over 50 marginal constituencies, particularly in Malda, Murshidabad and parts of North Bengal.In several closely fought seats, even small Congress vote shares exceeded victory margins.Analysts suggest this could have indirectly aided BJP’s surge while affecting TMC’s consolidation.4) Perception of centralisation and Abhishek Banerjee’s remarksIn a politically aware state, a section of voters was increasingly seen as viewing the TMC as moving towards a more centralised structure.Mamata Banerjee, once seen as an outsider to traditional political networks, was gradually perceived by some as concentrating decision-making within a smaller circle. Attention also increasingly focused on her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.This perception had been flagged earlier by Suvendu Adhikari after his exit. The idea of a “bhaipo sarkar” (nephew’s government) entered political discourse over time.Some analysts note that such perceptions, whether accurate or amplified politically, may have influenced voter sentiment in certain segments.These factors may or may not have contributed to TMC’s electoral outcome. However, the results clearly indicate that something did not go as expected for the party, even as analysts describe the outcome as a significant political shift, with the BJP expanding its footprint across the state.

A combination of voter roll revision, internal ticket denial, opposition vote fragmentation and organisational shifts reshapes Bengal’s political balance, culminating in a decisive BJP sweep and TMC’s biggest electoral setback in years, argue political analysts.Mamata Banerjee lost Bhabhanipur to the Bharatiya Janata Party's Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes, a stunning blow that political analysts argue may signal a larger political shift sweeping across the state. The BJP has swept the West Bengal elections, marking what many observers describe as a decisive break from an era long dominated by the TMC.  

Mamata Banerjee Loses Bhabanipur: Factors that may have led to TMC setback in West Bengal

No words can fully capture the scale of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s setback, more than the fact that its supremo and the state’s very own “Didi”, Mamata Banerjee, has lost her own bastion of Bhabhanipur. In 2021, when the TMC chief held the seat, there was a loud chorus of confidence that no one could defeat her in Bhabhanipur. But as the saying goes, no throne lasts forever. Even the strongest fortresses eventually show cracks, and West Bengal’s “Didi” has now seen her fort fall. Mamata Banerjee lost Bhabhanipur to the Bharatiya Janata Partys Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes, a stunning blow that political analysts argue may signal a larger political shift sweeping across the state. The BJP has swept the West Bengal elections, marking what many observers describe as a decisive break from an era long dominated by the TMC. The 71-year-old leader, who fought hard to retain her grip on power and secure a fourth consecutive term, has been defeated in a verdict that leaves little room for doubt. What once looked like an unshakeable stronghold has now been overturned, as analysts point to a significant political realignment in the state. For the TMC and Mamata Banerjee, this is being seen as a moment of reckoning. As the dust settles, the party may be forced to turn inward and confront the cracks that may have contributed to this defeat. Before that, it is worth taking a closer look at the factors that may have played a role in this setback. 1) SIR and the electoral reshaping of West Bengal The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as one of the most closely watched factors in West Bengal’s electoral outcome, with its scale, distribution and political interpretation now forming a key part of the post-poll narrative. Nearly 91 lakh names were deleted from the state’s electoral rolls during the exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India, immediately triggering political debate over its impact on voter composition and electoral outcomes. Official data indicates that around 63 lakh names were removed in the initial phase, followed by nearly 27 lakh voters declared ineligible after judicial scrutiny. The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise was aimed at cleaning up the rolls by removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, shifted individuals and other ineligible names. However, the geographical spread of deletions has added a sharper political edge. Districts such as Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Malda, Nadia and South 24 Parganas recorded some of the highest numbers of deletions. In Kolkata, nearly seven lakh voters were removed. The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the exercise disproportionately impacted minorities, migrant workers and economically weaker sections, arguing that the scale of deletions may have influenced outcomes in tightly contested constituencies. The BJP has defended the revision, calling it a necessary clean-up to remove bogus and illegal entries and strengthen electoral integrity. The opposing interpretations have effectively turned the SIR into a central political flashpoint.  BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure. They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium… pic.twitter.com/EJU8CRncE2 — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 30, 2026 In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the TMC wrote: “BJP’s game plan is out in the open, and it is a blueprint for failure. They deleted legitimate voters through SIR. They failed. They purged neutral officials and installed their own stooges. That failed too. They even attempted a midnight heist at the Netaji Indoor Stadium strongroom to tamper with EVMs, only for Smt. @MamataOfficial to anticipate and foil their dirty tricks.” As counting trends and results were analysed, several constituencies with high deletion intensity came under scrutiny for unexpected outcomes and swings. Analysts also argue that in some of these seats, deletion figures and victory margins appeared to overlap, though a direct causal link remains debated. In Jangipur, TMC candidate Jakir Hussain lost to BJP’s Chitto Mukherjee. In Katwa, six time MLA Rabindranath Chatterjee was defeated by BJP’s Krishna Ghosh. In Noapara, Arjun Singh secured victory on a BJP ticket after multiple party switches between BJP and TMC over the years. In Chunchura, BJP’s Subir Nag defeated TMC’s Debangshu Bhattacharya, known for popularising the “khela hobe” (the game is on) slogan during earlier campaigns. In Murshidabad’s Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir, a former police officer turned politician who later floated his own outfit after breaking away from the TMC, registered a win. In Kushmandi, BJP candidate Tapas Roy defeated the TMC nominee, marking a notable shift in a seat he had earlier represented during his long association with the party before switching sides. In Katwa, the defeat of Rabindranath Chatterjee, a six time TMC legislator, stood out as one of the most significant losses for the party. In Bongaon Dakshin, 26-year-old influencer Rituparna Addhya lost to BJP’s Swapan Majumder. In Purbasthali Uttar, TMC’s Swapan Debnath lost despite earlier narrow margins, even as the constituency reportedly saw over 11,000 voter deletions during the SIR process. In Nandigram and surrounding politically sensitive belts, analysts also flagged close contests where deletion figures and swing margins appeared to overlap. What has emerged is that the SIR has moved beyond a technical exercise and now sits at the centre of a political argument over whether it may have acted as a structural factor in TMC’s electoral performance. 2) Ticket denial to sitting MLAs not going in favour Another factor being cited is Mamata Banerjee’s decision to drop many sitting MLAs in an effort to counter anti-incumbency. The party replaced several experienced candidates with new faces. Soon after the announcement of candidates for 291 of the 294 seats, internal dissatisfaction surfaced. Around 74 outgoing MLAs were denied tickets, leading to resignations and public discontent. In Rajganj, four-time MLA Khageswar Roy was replaced. The party fielded Swapna Barman instead, who later lost to BJP’s Dinesh Sarkar by over 21,000 votes. Similar changes were made in constituencies such as Uttarpara, Chunchura, Behala Paschim, Behala Purba, Jorasanko and Beliaghata, where the newly fielded candidates lost the elections. Political observers say these results have strengthened the argument that large-scale replacement of sitting MLAs may have weakened the party’s local organisational strength. 3) The slow pinch of Congress Congress’s independent contest had a limited but potentially decisive impact. With 2.98 per cent vote share and two seats, it fragmented anti-BJP and minority votes in over 50 marginal constituencies, particularly in Malda, Murshidabad and parts of North Bengal. In several closely fought seats, even small Congress vote shares exceeded victory margins. Analysts suggest this could have indirectly aided BJP’s surge while affecting TMC’s consolidation. 4) Perception of centralisation and Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks In a politically aware state, a section of voters was increasingly seen as viewing the TMC as moving towards a more centralised structure. Mamata Banerjee, once seen as an outsider to traditional political networks, was gradually perceived by some as concentrating decision-making within a smaller circle. Attention also increasingly focused on her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. This perception had been flagged earlier by Suvendu Adhikari after his exit. The idea of a “bhaipo sarkar” (nephew’s government) entered political discourse over time. Some analysts note that such perceptions, whether accurate or amplified politically, may have influenced voter sentiment in certain segments. These factors may or may not have contributed to TMC’s electoral outcome. However, the results clearly indicate that something did not go as expected for the party, even as analysts describe the outcome as a significant political shift, with the BJP expanding its footprint across the state.

A combination of voter roll revision, internal ticket denial, opposition vote fragmentation and organisational shifts reshapes Bengal’s political balance, culminating in a decisive BJP sweep and TMC’s biggest electoral setback in years, argue political analysts.Mamata Banerjee lost 