Lead flips again in Bhabanipur as Mamata Banerjee edges ahead of Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has moved back into the lead in Bhabanipur after the third round of counting, overturning an earlier deficit against the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in what is turning into a nail-biting contest.

The back-and-forth battle in this high-profile seat has quickly become one of the closest races of the election, reflecting the larger political churn unfolding across the state.

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After briefly trailing by nearly 2,000 votes, Banerjee recovered ground and is now ahead by around 800 votes, according to trends from the Election Commission. The lead, however, remains slender, keeping both camps on edge as counting progresses.

Adhikari, meanwhile, struck a confident note despite the shifting numbers. “In Bhabanipur, the first round was of the Muslim area, in which I conceded a deficit of approx 2000 votes. After the second round, which was a Hindu area, I was leading with 2200 votes. I want to thank every Hindu, Sanatani, those have cast their votes in favour of me… Mamata Banerjee will again be defeated in Bhabanipur,” he said.

Statewide trends point to a tight race

Beyond Bhabanipur, early trends suggest a competitive fight across West Bengal. The BJP-led alliance is ahead in 140 seats, while the Trinamool Congress is leading in 73, with its ally BGPM ahead in one seat, according to Election Commission figures.

Television projections indicate the BJP maintaining a narrow edge in the 294-member Assembly, with leads in 178 seats, while the TMC is ahead in 113. The halfway mark stands at 148.

Record voter turnout sets the stage

The election has already made headlines for its massive voter participation. Phase II saw 91.66 per cent turnout, while Phase I had an even higher 93.19 per cent participation. Together, the two phases averaged 92.47 per cent voting, the highest recorded since Independence.

The last Assembly election in 2021 had delivered a clear win for the Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee, with the party bagging 213 seats and close to 48 per cent vote share. The BJP emerged as the principal opposition with 77 seats and roughly 38 per cent votes, marking a sharp jump from its earlier performance, while the Left-Congress alliance failed to open its account.