Shobaa De: Bengal poll defeat humiliating for TMC, personal for Mamata
Synopsis
Columnist Shobaa De did not mince words: Mamata Banerjee's loss in West Bengal is not just a party setback but a deeply personal reckoning — sealed, De argues, by the very women voters Banerjee failed to stand with. The BJP's 206-seat sweep and Banerjee's personal defeat in Bhabanipur mark a seismic end to 15 years of TMC dominance.
Key Takeaways
Columnist Shobaa De called the Bengal results a "humiliating" and "personal" defeat for Mamata Banerjee in an Instagram video on 5 May .
BJP won 206 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly , securing a decisive two-thirds majority.
Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur constituency to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes .
TMC won only 81 seats and failed to win a single seat in 10 districts , including Cooch Behar and Darjeeling .
BJP polled 46% vote share against TMC's 41% , ending 15 years of Trinamool rule.
Repolling in Falta seat scheduled for 21 May ; counting due 24 May , per the Election Commission of India .
Columnist Shobaa De on 5 May described the West Bengal Assembly election results as a "humiliating defeat" for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a deeply "personal" blow for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while celebrating what she called a "colossal historic win" for the people of the state.
De's Reaction: Women of Bengal Voted Her Out
In a video message posted on Instagram, De — dressed in a Dhakai Jamdani from Kolkata — said, "The city of joy is bursting with joy today and understandably so...I am celebrating along with the people of Kolkata what is clearly a colossal historic win."
De argued that the primary reason for Banerjee's downfall was the women of West Bengal themselves. "She never had the good sense to show any kind of sympathy, solidarity, or empathy for the women of West Bengal, and all of it has backfired on her," she said.
Calling the outcome "a slap on the face in many ways", De added, "It's not just a humiliating defeat for her party, but it's also a personal defeat for her like no other leader has experienced in the past."
Modi's Campaign and the 'Badlao' Mandate
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaigns in the state, De said, "The Prime Minister has said the lotus is blooming in West Bengal, let it bloom, let many lotuses bloom. He's talking about a vote for Badlao; he's absolutely right."
She attributed Banerjee's ouster to voter fatigue over "corruption", "complete indifference to infrastructure", and the "suppression and terrorising" of citizens' voices over 15 years of Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule.
"So, 15 years, Mamata, you had a jolly good run, it's time to hand the state over to the BJP and let's see how it does. Everyone will be watching the story from this moment on," De said.
Key Election Results at a Glance
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the next government in West Bengal with a decisive two-thirds majority, ending TMC's 15-year rule. In the 294-member Assembly, the majority mark stands at 148. Results were declared for 293 constituencies on Monday, with repolling scheduled in the Falta seat of South 24 Parganas district on 21 May, as announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI), with counting for that seat due on 24 May.
Of the declared results, the BJP secured 206 seats, comfortably ahead of the TMC, which managed 81 seats. TMC chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur seat to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.
In terms of vote share, the BJP polled 46%, followed by the TMC at 41%. Notably, the TMC failed to win a single seat in ten districts, including Cooch Behar, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling, and also lost all tribal- and Matua-dominated constituencies.
De's Message to West Bengal
De concluded by congratulating the people of West Bengal for voting in large numbers and delivering a decisive mandate. "Let's hope the future of West Bengal is restored to its old glory, which had been systematically decimated and destroyed not just by Mamata but also by her predecessors. Here's to you, city of joy, let there be more joy," she said.
All eyes now turn to the BJP's governance agenda in Bengal and whether it can translate its electoral sweep into tangible administrative change in one of India's most politically volatile states.
Point of View
Particularly on women's safety, an issue that had been simmering since the RG Kar Medical College case. What mainstream coverage risks underplaying is the scale of TMC's collapse in tribal and Matua belts, which signals a structural realignment rather than a mere anti-incumbency wave. The BJP now inherits a state with deep administrative challenges; the real test begins not with the win, but with delivery. Bengal has punished incumbents before — and will again.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shobaa De say about the West Bengal election results?
Columnist Shobaa De called the outcome a 'humiliating' and 'personal' defeat for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, arguing that women voters of West Bengal rejected her due to a perceived lack of empathy and solidarity. She posted her reaction in a video on Instagram on 5 May.
How many seats did BJP win in the West Bengal Assembly elections?
The BJP won 206 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, well above the majority mark of 148, ending the Trinamool Congress' 15-year rule in the state. The TMC was reduced to 81 seats.
Did Mamata Banerjee lose her own seat?
Yes, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur constituency to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by a margin of over 15,000 votes, marking a significant personal setback alongside her party's broader defeat.
What was the vote share in the West Bengal elections?
The BJP polled 46% of the vote share, while the Trinamool Congress received 41%. The BJP's margin reflects a decisive swing across multiple regions, including tribal and Matua-dominated constituencies where TMC drew a blank.
When will the Falta seat result be declared?
Repolling in the Falta seat of South 24 Parganas district is scheduled for 21 May, with counting due on 24 May, as announced by the Election Commission of India.
