Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: West Bengal heads into counting day with an unusually tight contest that has kept both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on edge. Exit polls point to a split verdict, and after a campaign marked by sharp rhetoric, high turnout and persistent allegations, the outcome now hinges on how key constituencies break.This election has not just been about numbers but about narratives. The BJP framed the contest around governance, corruption and law and order, while Mamata Banerjee’s TMC pushed back with a campaign centred on Bengali identity, welfare delivery and claims of voter disenfranchisement under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Here is a closer look at the key seats that could define West Bengal’s verdict:
Bhowanipore: Mamata vs Adhikari, round two
This is the election’s most high-profile contest, with Mamata Banerjee defending her home turf against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Their rivalry dates back to Nandigram in 2021, where Adhikari defeated her. Bhowanipore has remained firmly with the TMC since 2011, but the BJP has steadily improved its position, cutting margins in recent elections. A mixed electorate and the impact of voter roll revisions make this more competitive than before.
Noapara: Battle for the industrial belt
Noapara reflects the churn in Bengal politics. BJP’s Arjun Singh, who has switched sides more than once, is fighting to stay relevant. The TMC has fielded Trinankur Bhattacharya, projecting a younger leadership face. The seat is crucial in the Barrackpore industrial region, where both parties are vying for influence.
Tollygunge and Rashbehari: Competing urban claims
In Tollygunge, TMC’s Aroop Biswas is pitching infrastructure gains and urban renewal, while the BJP has attacked what it calls underlying civic decay. Rashbehari, long a TMC stronghold, is witnessing a sharper BJP push led by Swapan Dasgupta, who has focused on corruption and urban voter outreach.
Bagdah: Family rivalry, Matua factor
Bagdah features a direct contest within the Thakur family, with BJP’s Soma Thakur facing TMC’s Madhuparna Thakur. The Matua community remains central to the outcome, while concerns over voter deletions under SIR have added to the uncertainty.
Nandigram and Kharagpur Sadar: High-stakes BJP tests
Nandigram again draws attention with Suvendu Adhikari facing former associate Pabitra Kar. Identity politics and voter roll changes are key issues here. In Kharagpur Sadar, BJP’s Dilip Ghosh is attempting a comeback in a seat known for narrow margins and significant voter list changes.
Siliguri, Malatipur, Behrampore: Three-way fights
Siliguri has shifted from a Left bastion to a BJP stronghold, but the TMC is pushing back with development promises. Malatipur and Behrampore are seeing triangular contests involving Congress, TMC and BJP, where legacy politics, welfare delivery and communal dynamics intersect.
