Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday claimed that an "anti-incumbency wave" is sweeping West Bengal, and suggested that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appears "restless" as voting continued across 142 constituencies in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. The remarks came as voter turnout in the first six hours — till 3 pm — touched 76.68 per cent, significantly higher than the 45.10 per cent recorded during the same window in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Chowdhury's Claims on Anti-Incumbency

Speaking to reporters, Chowdhury said, "There is an anti-incumbency wave, but in this wave, which party will benefit, it's tough to say now because the votes of the opposition will be divided. However, if the Trinamool's vote remains intact, then they will definitely benefit. However, one thing is clear: there is an anti-incumbency wave in Bengal and the real question is who will benefit from it."

He added that the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) could still hold its ground if its core vote bank consolidates, but acknowledged that a split opposition vote makes the outcome unpredictable. The Congress leader's remarks reflect a broader unease within opposition ranks about translating public discontent into electoral gains.

Mamata's Constituency Activity Draws Attention

Chowdhury also took aim at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visible campaign activity in her own constituency of Bhabanipur, in South Kolkata. "For the first time, we are seeing Mamata Banerjee restlessly roaming around and interacting with the voters. This is the first time we are seeing her going from one booth to another in her constituency. This is unprecedented. I feel that Mamata Banerjee is not confident of her win, which is why she seems so restless," he said.

Bhabanipur is witnessing a high-profile contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, making it one of the most closely watched seats of this election cycle.

Tensions in Bhabanipur, Baton Charge Reported

Tensions flared in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency during polling, where central forces resorted to a baton charge to disperse agitated TMC supporters. The situation further escalated in the Kalighat area — located close to the Chief Minister's official residence — where TMC workers staged protests and raised slogans against Adhikari.

Following the incident, Suvendu Adhikari lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal. Authorities attributed the relative containment of violence to the deployment of central forces under the surveillance of 142 general observers and 95 police observers — up from 84 in the first phase. No casualties or major injuries were reported, and large-scale voter intimidation was not recorded as of the latest updates.

Phase 2 Polling: Scale and Turnout

The second phase covers 142 constituencies spread across six districts of West Bengal. The 76.68 per cent turnout recorded in the first six hours is substantially higher than the corresponding figure from the 2024 general elections, signalling strong voter engagement — though analysts caution against reading turnout alone as a directional indicator for any single party.

Sporadic reports of poll-related violence and disruption emerged from certain pockets since morning, but officials maintained that no large-scale incidents were confirmed. The heightened deployment of central forces has been widely credited for keeping the situation largely under control.

What to Watch Next

With the second phase underway, attention will now shift to the remaining phases and whether the anti-incumbency sentiment Chowdhury describes translates into seat gains for the opposition — or whether TMC's organisational strength and consolidated vote bank blunts any wave. The Bhabanipur result, in particular, will be seen as a referendum on Mamata Banerjee's personal standing in the state.