Suvendu Adhikari inspects Bhabanipur booths, urges voters as Phase 2 polling begins
Synopsis
The Bhabanipur constituency is the marquee clash of West Bengal's Phase 2 polls — Suvendu Adhikari going head-to-head with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her home turf of 15 years. With Adhikari also contesting from Nandigram, a dismissed PIL against his candidature, and early-morning tension at multiple booths, the stakes could not be higher.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari inspected polling stations in Bhabanipur and offered prayers at the Hanuman temple on 29 April 2026 .
Adhikari is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur — a seat she has held for 15 years — while also contesting from Nandigram .
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a PIL seeking cancellation of Adhikari's candidature earlier this week.
Phase 2 polling covers 142 constituencies across 6 districts including Kolkata , with 2,407 companies of central forces deployed.
Early tension was reported in Rashbehari over alleged TMC interference, and in Singur where outgoing MLA Bencharam Manna staged a protest.
PM Narendra Modi issued a social media appeal urging voters — especially women and youth — to turn out in record numbers.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, 29 April inspected polling stations across the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata and offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in the area, as the second phase of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 got underway under tight security cover across 142 constituencies in six districts.
High-Stakes Battle in Bhabanipur
Suvendu Adhikari, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, is contesting directly against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur — a seat the Chief Minister has held for the past 15 years. Adhikari is simultaneously contesting from Nandigram, the seat he currently holds, making him one of the few candidates fighting on two fronts in this election cycle.
Speaking to reporters at the Sunder Di Gari Temple, Adhikari urged voters:
Point of View
Who is simultaneously contesting from Nandigram. The dismissed PIL against Adhikari's candidature, while legally inconsequential, signals the charged political atmosphere. Early reports of booth-level tension in Rashbehari and Singur, and the unprecedented deployment of 2,407 companies of central forces, underscore how little trust exists between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and its rivals. The real story here is not just who wins Bhabanipur — it is whether the security architecture holds across all 142 constituencies through the day.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suvendu Adhikari contesting against in Bhabanipur?
Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP candidate and West Bengal Leader of Opposition, is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. Banerjee has held the seat for the past 15 years.
What happened to the PIL seeking cancellation of Adhikari's candidature?
The Calcutta High Court dismissed the Public Interest Litigation on Monday. The petitioner sought cancellation of Adhikari's nomination alleging remarks against the secular fabric of the nation, but could not satisfactorily answer the court's query on which constitutional provision warranted cancellation.
How many constituencies are voting in West Bengal Phase 2 elections?
Phase 2 polling is being held across 142 constituencies in six districts — Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia, and East Burdwan — with polling beginning at 7 am on 29 April 2026.
What security arrangements are in place for Phase 2 West Bengal polls?
A total of 2,407 companies of central forces have been deployed, including Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), India Reserve Battalion personnel, and armed police from other states, alongside West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police. CCTV cameras and webcasting are operational at all polling stations.
What early tensions were reported on polling day?
Mild tension broke out in the Rashbehari constituency after Congress alleged that TMC activists were preventing their booth agents from entering a polling booth. In Singur, outgoing TMC MLA Bencharam Manna staged a protest outside a police station alleging security force excesses. Additionally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with more companions than permitted.
