NEW DELHI: West Bengal enters counting day with an unusually tight contest that has both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on edge. Exit polls showed a divided result, with the outcome now hinged on divisions in key constituencies after a campaign marked by sharp rhetoric, high turnout and persistent accusations.This election is as much about narratives as it is about numbers. The BJP has framed the contest around governance, corruption and law and order, while Mamata Banerjee’s TMC has fought back with a campaign centered on Bengali identity, welfare delivery and claims of disenfranchisement of voters under the Special Intensification Amendment (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
Here’s a closer look at the key seats that could decide the verdict in West Bengal:
Bhowanipore: Mamata vs Adhikari, second round
It was the most high-profile contest of the election, with Mamata Banerjee defending her turf against the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Their rivalry dates back to Nandigram in 2021 when Adhikari defeated her. Bhovanipore has been staunchly with the TMC since 2011, but the BJP has steadily improved its standing, cutting its advantage in recent elections. The impact of mixed electorates and electoral roll revisions made this election more competitive than before.
Noapara: Battle for the Industrial Belt
Noapara reflects the turmoil of Bengali politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Arjun Singh has changed sides more than once, but he is struggling to remain relevant. The TMC has presented a young leadership face by appointing Trinankur Bhattacharya. The seat is crucial in the industrial area of ​​Barakpur and both parties are vying for influence.
Tollygunge and Rashbehari: competing urban claims
In Tollygunge, TMC’s Aroop Biswas is touting infrastructure development and urban renewal, while the BJP attacks what it calls potential civic decline. Rashbehari, long a TMC stronghold, has witnessed a more intense push by the BJP led by Swapan Dasgupta, who has focused on corruption and outreach to urban voters.
Baghdad: Family rivalries, the Matua factor
Baghdad is characterized by direct competition within the Thakur family, with the BJP’s Soma Thakur taking on the TMC’s Madhuparna Thakur. The Matua community remains at the heart of the outcome, while concerns about voter erasure under the SIR add to uncertainty.
Nandigram and Kharagpur Sadar: A high-stakes test for the BJP
Nandigram is again in the spotlight with Suvendu Adhikari taking on former colleague Pabitra Kar. Identity politics and electoral roll changes are key issues here. In Kharagpur Sadar, the BJP’s Dilip Ghosh is trying to make a comeback in a seat known for slim margins and major voter list changes.
Siliguri, Maratipur, Bellampore: Three-way battle
Siliguri has transformed from a Left bastion into a BJP stronghold, but the TMC is fighting back with promises of development. Maratipur and Behrampore are witnessing a triangular contest between the Congress, TMC and the BJP, where traditional politics, welfare provision and communal dynamics intersect with each other.
