West Bengal’s electoral drama intensified on Wednesday as BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the state’s opposition chief, inspected voting centers in Bhabanipur. This Trinamool stronghold, held by CM Mamata Banerjee for over a decade and a half, became the focal point of Phase 2 polling across 142 constituencies in six districts.
Kicking off his day with prayers at the Hanuman Temple, Adhikari addressed the media at Sundar Di Gari Temple, imploring residents: ‘Vote in huge numbers.’ The BJP candidate, currently MP from Nandigram, is challenging Banerjee head-on, aiming to flip the seat amid heightened security with CAPF personnel and CCTV oversight.
Polling began smoothly at 7 AM, but pockets of unrest emerged early. In Bhabanipur, central forces cautioned Kartik Banerjee, the CM’s brother, against exceeding gathering limits near a police station. The Calcutta High Court had earlier rejected a plea to scrap Adhikari’s nomination, criticizing the lack of legal grounding in claims of secularism breaches.
Broader challenges marked the phase: overnight tensions in Hugli’s Singur saw TMC MLA Becharam Manna stage a sit-in against security ‘atrocities.’ An EVM malfunction in Nadia’s Shantipur delayed proceedings at one booth. PM Modi’s morning tweet rallied voters statewide for massive participation.
Adhikari’s booth visits signal BJP’s aggressive strategy in urban Kolkata, where anti-incumbency sentiments could sway outcomes. With Banerjee contesting Nandigram too, Bhabanipur represents a personal and political litmus test. As lines formed under watchful eyes, the phase promised to reshape Bengal’s power dynamics, with every vote under scrutiny.
