Mamata vs Suvendu in Bhabanipur: Who leads in assets and criminal cases?

Kolkata: As the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency prepares for one of the most closely watched electoral battles in West Bengal, affidavits filed with the Election Commission show that Suvendu Adhikari is ahead of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in both assets and criminal cases.

While Mamata Banerjee maintains a clean record with zero criminal cases, Adhikari now faces 29 registered cases across Kolkata and other districts—a significant rise from zero cases in 2021, when he last contested elections. This sharp contrast is likely to become a major talking point among voters and the media as polling day approaches.

Assets: Adhikari surpasses Mamata

The affidavits also highlight a notable difference in declared wealth:

• Mamata Banerjee: Immovable property worth Rs 15.37 lakh, no movable assets, and no loans or liabilities.
• Suvendu Adhikari: Immovable property worth Rs 61.30 lakh, movable property of Rs 24.57 lakh, and cash on hand of Rs 12,000. His total assets have declined by Rs 34.74 lakh over the last five years, reflecting changes during his political tenure.

Past electoral battles:

The Bhabanipur race is not just about numbers, it’s also about political history.

He was a two-time MLA from Nandigram, first representing Trinamool Congress (TMC) from 2016 to 2021, and then switching to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2021 to present.

- In 2021, he defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram by fewer than 2,000 votes, marking a key political upset.

- Mamata later won Bhabanipur in a by-election, retaining her position as Chief Minister for the third consecutive term.

This year, Adhikari is contesting both Bhabanipur and Nandigram, making the battle even more intense.

Key poll dates for voters

Nandigram (Phase 1): April 23, 2026

Bhabanipur (Phase 2): April 29, 2026

Results Declaration: May 4, 2026.

With IANS inputs