Suvendu Adhikari confident of win in Bhabanipur, Mamata's own booth
Synopsis
Suvendu Adhikari walked into Mamata Banerjee's own polling booth in Bhabanipur and declared he would win there too — a bold provocation at the heart of the TMC's most symbolic constituency. Meanwhile, BJP's EVM tampering allegation at Falta and Mamata's counter-charges against central forces have added fresh flashpoints to an already high-voltage second phase of polling.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari visited the Mitra Institution polling booth in Bhabanipur , where Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee voted, and claimed confidence of a lead there.
Mamata Banerjee is the sitting MLA and TMC candidate in Bhabanipur, directly contesting against Adhikari.
BJP alleged that an EVM button for its candidate at a booth in Falta, South 24 Parganas , was covered with tape.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly called Adhikari, and BJP's Amit Malviya flagged the issue with the Election Commission of India (ECI) .
The ECI sought a report from the West Bengal CEO's office, warning that affected booths could face re-polling .
Mamata Banerjee alleged central forces were acting as BJP agents and had arrested TMC workers since Tuesday night.
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday, 29 April, declared his confidence of victory even at the specific polling booth in Bhabanipur constituency, South Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee — All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member — cast their votes. The declaration came as the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections unfolded across 142 constituencies in six districts and the state capital.
Adhikari at the Booth
Suvendu Adhikari visited the polling booth at Mitra Institution within the Bhabanipur constituency on Wednesday, interacting with voters before departing. He told reporters that the polling process had been peaceful at that location and that he was confident of securing a lead there. Mamata Banerjee, the sitting MLA and TMC candidate, is directly pitted against Adhikari in Bhabanipur — making the constituency one of the most closely watched in this election cycle.
EVM Tampering Allegation at Falta
Adhikari also raised a serious allegation, claiming that at a polling booth in Falta, South 24 Parganas district, the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) button for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate had been covered with tape. "We have got information that at a particular polling booth at Falta in South 24 Parganas district, the EVM button for the BJP candidate was covered by a tape," Adhikari told media persons.
He added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah called him to discuss the matter, and that the party's central observer for West Bengal and BJP's Information Technology Chief, Amit Malviya, had formally flagged the issue with the Election Commission of India (ECI), which reportedly promised to take action.
Election Commission Response
The ECI has sought a report from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, on the alleged incident. The CEO's office stated that any reports of EVM buttons being taped would be verified and noted. "If true, those booths will go for a re-polling," the ECI reportedly said. The response signals that the Commission is treating the complaint with procedural seriousness, though the outcome of the inquiry remains pending.
Mamata Banerjee's Allegations Against Central Forces
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continued to level allegations against central security forces deployed for the second phase of polling. She claimed the forces were acting as agents of the BJP, selectively targeting TMC leaders and workers. "The central forces are acting like the agents of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and they are selectively targeting Trinamool Congress leaders and workers since Tuesday night. They have arrested many of our agents on Tuesday night," she reportedly said. The Centre has not publicly responded to these specific charges as of the time of reporting.
With Bhabanipur emerging as the symbolic epicentre of the contest between Adhikari and Banerjee, the results from this constituency are expected to carry outsized political significance for both sides.
Point of View
Whether verified or not, follows a familiar pattern of election-day charge and counter-charge in West Bengal that tends to muddy the accountability trail. What stands out is the speed with which the matter escalated — from a local booth complaint to the Home Minister's phone call and a formal ECI notice — suggesting both parties are primed for a post-result dispute. Mamata's counter-allegations against central forces, meanwhile, are consistent with her long-running narrative of central overreach, but without specifics or independent corroboration, they remain difficult to assess fairly.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhabanipur constituency significant in the West Bengal elections?
Bhabanipur is significant because Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the sitting MLA and TMC candidate there, and she is directly contesting against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, making it the most high-profile individual contest of the election.
What is the EVM tampering allegation raised by BJP in West Bengal?
BJP's Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the EVM button for the BJP candidate at a polling booth in Falta, South 24 Parganas, was covered with tape. The matter was flagged to the Election Commission of India, which has sought a report from the Chief Electoral Officer's office.
What action has the Election Commission taken on the EVM tape allegation?
The ECI has sought a report from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer's office on the incident. The Commission has stated that if the allegation is verified, the affected booths would be sent for re-polling.
What did Mamata Banerjee allege about central security forces?
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that central forces deployed for the second phase of polling were acting as agents of the BJP, selectively targeting TMC leaders and workers, and had arrested TMC agents since Tuesday night.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee and what is his role in TMC?
Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress, and a Lok Sabha member. He also cast his vote at the Bhabanipur constituency booth referenced by Suvendu Adhikari.
