Bhabanipur battle heats up: Mamata alleges booth capture, Adhikari raises ‘hindu’ slogans

Kolkata: The Bhabanipur constituency witnessed a charged political atmosphere as Mamata Banerjee accused central forces of poll irregularities, while Suvendu Adhikari raised religious slogans after casting his vote.

The contest remains one of the most closely watched in the West Bengal elections.

High-profile face-off in Bhabanipur

The Bhabanipur seat has emerged as the focal point of the West Bengal elections, featuring a direct contest between Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The rivalry carries historical weight, as Adhikari had defeated Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 elections, although she later returned to the Legislative Assembly through a bypoll.

Mamata Banerjee alleges booth capture

After casting her vote, Mamata Banerjee alleged “atrocities” and “capture” of polling booths by central forces. She claimed that several party workers had been detained and raised concerns over the role of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

She stated that such incidents were unprecedented in her long political career, alleging that central forces were acting beyond their mandate.

Suvendu Adhikari raises slogans after voting

Earlier in the day, Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote and raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindu-Hindu, bhai-bhai”. He also called for unity among Hindus, drawing reactions from rival supporters present at the polling station.

The moment added to the already tense political environment in the constituency.

Strong voter turnout across the state

West Bengal recorded a robust voter turnout in the second phase of polling, with over 78% participation reported till the afternoon. The turnout closely mirrored the first phase, indicating sustained voter engagement.

Among districts, Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 83.11%, followed by Hooghly at 80.77% and Nadia at 79.79%. Howrah registered 77.73%, while North 24 Parganas saw 77.39% voting. Kolkata North and South recorded 78% and 75.38% turnout respectively, and South 24 Parganas reported 76.75%.

With Bhabanipur being one of the most closely watched constituencies, the outcome is expected to carry significant political implications. Both Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari have positioned the contest as a crucial battle, reflecting broader political dynamics in the state.