Bharatiya Janata Party`s (BJP) Suvendu Adhikari defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat by a margin of 15,105 votes on Monday, the EC said, reported the PTI.
While Adhikari bagged 73,917 votes, Banerjee secured 58,812 votes.
Adhikari won two of West Bengal’s most closely watched Assembly constituencies — Bhabanipur and Nandigram.
The result marks a significant political moment, as Bhabanipur has been considered a stronghold of Banerjee.
Victory in Nandigram
Adhikari also won the Nandigram constituency, securing 1,27,301 votes at the end of the final round of counting.
The seat has been politically significant in West Bengal’s electoral landscape, according to the ANI.
The Bhabanipur contest remained closely fought through multiple rounds of counting.
Earlier trends showed a narrow margin between the two leaders, with Mamata Banerjee briefly reducing a deficit before Suvendu Adhikari surged ahead in the later rounds to secure a decisive lead.
Tense atmosphere at counting centre
There was a tense atmosphere at the Bhabanipur counting centre, with political supporters gathering outside as results unfolded.
The closely contested nature of the seat kept attention focused on the outcome until the final rounds.
Wider political shift in Bengal
The broader election trends indicate a major shift in West Bengal’s political landscape.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been in power for around 15 years, faced a significant challenge as the BJP gained ground across the state.
Loot claims
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Banerjee claimed that more than 100 seats had been “looted” and described the outcome as “immoral” and “illegal”, reported the ANI.
She reportedly criticised the Election Commission of India, alleging bias and inaction despite her complaints.
She said she had raised concerns with officials, including Manoj Agrawal, but no steps were taken.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also questioned the role of central agencies and security forces during the election process.
The Trinamool Congress leader further alleged irregularities at counting centres. She claimed that CCTV cameras were switched off, party agents were denied entry, and violence broke out later in the day. Banerjee also said she was physically attacked during the process, according to the ANI.
(with PTI and ANI inputs)