Mamata Banerjee cries foul over Bhabanipur defeat, alleges ‘stolen mandate’ and irregularities in counting
PTC Web Desk: A political controversy has erupted after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged serious irregularities in her defeat from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, claiming the mandate was “stolen” through unfair practices.
In a telephonic conversation shared by TMC MP and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee questioned the integrity of the counting process, particularly in the final rounds. She alleged that chaos broke out inside the counting centre when unidentified persons entered the premises and forcibly removed her party’s counting agents with the assistance of security personnel.
According to her, she was denied entry into the counting hall during a critical phase, raising concerns about transparency. She maintained that the constituency, considered a TMC stronghold, witnessed an unexpected shift in results despite her early dominance.
The Bhabanipur contest saw fluctuating trends across 20 rounds of counting. Mamata Banerjee initially led by a modest margin, which later expanded significantly, prompting early celebrations among her supporters. However, the lead began shrinking in the later stages, eventually turning in favour of BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari, who secured victory by over 15,000 votes.
Mamata Banerjee says she was beaten up inside polling booth.
Condemnable. Can we get a video to verify please @MamataOfficial ???? pic.twitter.com/WZvk0TPZkm — Nupur J Sharma (@UnSubtleDesi) May 4, 2026
Mamata Banerjee claimed that the decisive turnaround occurred after her party representatives were allegedly removed from the counting process. She also raised concerns about the handling of electronic voting machines, alleging that they were moved without proper sealing and oversight.
Describing the situation as “torture,” she accused the Election Commission of India, security forces and local officials of acting under pressure to favour the BJP. She further pointed to alleged discrepancies in voter rolls and claimed that disruptions during counting created an environment for manipulation.
The TMC chief asserted that her party has gathered evidence to support these claims and will challenge the outcome legally. Calling the result an “unethical dirty game,” she signalled a court battle ahead.
The loss in Bhabanipur is being viewed as a significant setback for the TMC, given the constituency’s reputation as one of Mamata Banerjee’s most reliable bastions.
- PTC NEWS
