The BJP has succeeded about one thing. It's like the first taste of blood. The announcement made by the Lotus party that her die-hard detractor and 2021 giant killer Suvendu Adhikari will contest from Bhawanipore and Nandigram has already had its impact.
The talk of the town ... is 'Banglar's one-time Agni Kanya' may now shift to Ballygunge - which has over 30 per cent Muslim voters as against only about 20-22 minority community electorate in Bhawanipore.
Mamata Banerjee has come a long way in life and political graph. In a country where politics has always been male-dominated and dynastic, she was a genuine outsider — a law and history graduate from a lower-middle-class family.
She took on the once dominant communists as she carried a Santiniketan bag to political rallies and walked on bathroom slippers.
That image worked. In a state devastated and exhausted by Left goondaism, it was exactly what people wanted to see.
However, the 2026 polls in two-phases have a Pandora's Box for her . A box full of challenges.
One of them is Bhawanipore assembly segment in Kolkata city appears no longer a safe constituency for her.
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| In 2014 - Mamata had vacant chairs at Ram Lila Ground, New Delhi |
Why Bhawanipore is no longer a safe seat for her ?
One reason is the BJP has expanded its base considerably here, If Mamata has been trying use 'Muslim polarisation', to a large extent the saffron outfit has able to get Hindu polarisation in their favour. In fact, the Lotus party is banking in 2026 on the cosmopolitan character of the Bhawanipore segment due to the presence of a large number of Gujaratis, Sindhis, Marwaris, Sikhs and Biharis. Then comes the demography comparison with Ballygunge. There are over 30 per cent of Muslims and some wards in fact expected to give Trinamool leadership comfortable leads have even more than 50 and 55 per cent of Muslims.
A resident from Ballygunge says - "Despite Hindu polarisation and BJP leaders including Suvendu Adhikari working hard in areas in and around Ballygunge; it is a fact that there are many pockets where Hindu population are neo-rich or upper middleclass. These sections may not really turn up on the voting day".
But it will be equally erroneous to suggest that the Trinamool leadership has started mooting about Ballygunge only after BJP's list was out on Monday (March 16). In all likelihood, Mamata had the inkling about discomfort in Bhawanipore or even the professionals in I-PAC could have given her the real picture on ground zero.
Perhaps this is why playback singer--turned-neta and a former BJP Minister under Modi, Babul Supriyo has been deputed to Rajya Sabha.
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Babul Supriyo, former Asansol MP who trouced Moonmoon Sen in 2019 |
Ballygunge is a safe TMC den since 2006. A prominent Marxists' bastion, it came to Mamata-led party in 2006 and has remained with it dedicatedly. 2006
Javed Ahmed Khan had won the seat in 2006 and after that Subrata Mukherjee won it for the party in 2011, 2016 and 2021.
Subrata Mukherjee expired on November 4, 2021 and by then Babul Supriyo was dropped from the Modi ministry. In the 2022-by poll, Babul Supriyo (now of TMC) defeated CPI-M nominee Saira Shah Halim.
Babul's nomination for Rajya Sabha had stunned many and also left the Bollywood singer surprised if not anguished. In fact when a journalist quizzed him about the party decision; he gave an angry response : "What kind of question is this ? Just because I am going to Rajya Sabha; you mean I am not part of top 11 of the team?"
Hence as the saying goes in politics -- nothing happens without a cause of reason. So Didi must be already preparing. But what must have upset her is that the BJP has first come out with its first list of candidates. This is an aggressive and decisive move.
Normally in last so many polls; Mamata would be the first party boss to release the names of candidates. Worse, the CPI-M has also come out with its first list. Moreover; BJP's googly of fielding Suvendu Adhikari from both Nandigram and Bhawanipore was not in her calculation.
Now, Mamata - who loves the image of Agni Kanya (woman of fire) - is here in another trap. She cannot give up Bhawanipore or cannot be daring for yet anther loss at the hands of Suvendu Adhikari.
Mamata has lost only two elections in her life - Nandigram in 2021 and prior to that Jadavpur in 1989. In fact, after her defeat in 1989, she never contested from Jadavpur ever in her life.
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| Suvendu and Sukanta Majumdar with Namo |
Bhawanipore offers other challenges for Mamata. The seat has only 20 per cent of Muslims as against over 30 per cent in Ballygunge.
To start with, in the acrimonious poll scene for the prized crown of West Bengal; the BJP has taken an initial lead by able to take the battle to Mamata's courtyards.
As of now she could be regretting why she delayed releasing her list of candidates.
ends
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