Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the result of the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency election, where she suffered a surprise defeat to BJP leader and current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
According to sources, Banerjee’s petition questions the outcome of the closely watched contest, which saw Adhikari secure victory by a margin of more than 15,000 votes. Election data showed that Adhikari polled 73,917 votes, while Banerjee received 58,812 votes in the constituency that had long been regarded as one of the TMC leader’s strongest political bastions.
Bhabanipur has been closely associated with Banerjee’s political career and has traditionally been considered a TMC stronghold. Her defeat in the constituency was one of the most significant developments of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, which resulted in the BJP forming the government in the state for the first time.
The legal challenge is expected to bring the election process and counting procedures under judicial scrutiny. While the exact grounds of Banerjee’s petition have not yet been made public, the move signals the TMC chief’s determination to contest the verdict through legal channels.
The Bhabanipur result was among the most closely followed contests during the state elections, given the high-profile rivalry between Banerjee and Adhikari. The BJP leader’s victory marked a major political setback for the TMC, which lost power in West Bengal after more than a decade in office.
The Calcutta High Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days. The outcome of the case could have significant political implications in West Bengal, where the opposition TMC has continued to challenge several aspects of the 2026 election process.
