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3 min readUpdated: Apr 29, 2026 03:12 PM IST
BJP candidate and Leader of Opposition in Bengal Suvendu Adhikari made rounds of several polling booths, during which he arrived at a booth where TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was camped. This happened in Bhabanipur’s Chakraberia polling area on Wednesday morning, where both launched sharp attacks on each other amid polling for the second and final phase of the assembly elections.
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Huge central force was present at the site. He was seen speaking with people there. He told media persons , “No one will vote for her [Mamata]… we’ll not spare an inch for her.” Banerjee had been camped in the area for nearly 45 minutes at the TMC party office when Adhikari arrived.
Suvendu Adhikari further said: “Section 163 (of BNSS) is in effect here. Mamata Banerjee is walking around with several people. Why is Mamata Banerjee roaming here?” He said he would raise an objection with the poll observer over this.
#WATCH | West Bengal Elections 2026 | LoP and BJP candidate from Bhabanipur and Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, says, “Section 163 (of BNSS) is in effect here. Mamata Banerjee is walking around with several people. Why is Mamata Banerjee roaming here? pic.twitter.com/KsuJJTfuPT
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2026
Though both leaders were in the same vicinity, they did not come face-to-face or exchange any greetings.
Banerjee, later during a press interaction, accused the BJP of attempting to influence the election process with the help of central forces, election observers and officials.
Smt. @MamataOfficial has made it crystal clear that we want peaceful polls; but we will not stay silent while the BJP’s dirty tricks unfold.
She strongly condemned the terror being unleashed by Police Observers and CRPF jawans. They are openly targeting our agents and party… pic.twitter.com/DVio4zVwqr
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 29, 2026
Adhikari, however, brushed aside the allegations, calling them an indication of the chief minister’s anxiety over the outcome.
“Mamata Banerjee is scared. Her police has been replaced by central forces, which is why she is nervous. If she has any complaints, she should approach the Election Commission. Why have 40-50 people come with her?” Adhikari said.
Confident of victory, he added that he would win Bhabanipur by a margin of at least 30,000 votes and asserted that voters must be allowed to cast their ballots freely.
Banerjee, who typically casts her vote later in the day at Mitra Institution School near her Kalighat residence, broke from her usual routine and began visiting booths before 8 am, reported news agency PTI.
Abhishek Chakraborty is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express in Delhi, working at the intersection of digital-first journalism, editorial decision-making, and audience engagement. He is closely involved in shaping and commissioning stories for the digital platform, with a focus on breaking news, explanatory journalism, and sharp, reader-oriented presentation. His work spans editorial planning, real-time news judgment, headline optimisation, and platform strategy, including search and social distribution. He has a strong interest in the evolution of news consumption in the digital ecosystem. He is particularly interested in how national newsrooms adapt to platform-led distribution models, data-informed editorial choices, and the balance between speed, depth, and credibility in digital-first journalism. His core interest areas are business, science, and political news. Education and interest areas: Abhishek holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science and a graduate degree in Journalism. His academic grounding informs his reportage and editing, particularly on politics, governance, and public policy. He is interested in the future of digital journalism, newsroom transformation, and the evolving relationship between technology, platforms, and public discourse. Abhishek hails from Assam's Guwahati and is proficient in English, Bengali, Assamese and Hindi. When not in the newsroom, Abhishek can be found exploring food trails around Delhi and Northeast India. In his leisure, Abhishek likes to go on long drives or bike rides, play cricket and games, and explore historical places. Work experience: Abhishek has over 11 years of experience at The Times of India, The Quint, India Today, ABP Network, and now, at The Indian Express. ... Read More
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