Suvendu Adhikari: Former Mamata loyalist who defeated her twice to become Bengal’s first BJP chief minister

New Delhi: In 2021, it seemed largely impossible, but five years later, it has become controversial. Can Suvendu Adhikari beat Mamata at home in Babanipur? The issue gained political legitimacy in 2026, given the 2021 battle for Nandigram, in which Mamata put up a tough contest against her former protégé.The battle to capture Nandigram, Suvendu’s bastion, did not go well for Mamata as the BJP leader defeated her by more than 1,900 votes. That was the first round match between Mamata and Suvendu. The second round in 2026 was even more intense, this time with Suvendu taking the fight to Mamata’s castle, Babanipur.This is a contender for Suvendu Adhikari who is bjpof (BJP) Chief Minister-designate, Mamata Banerjee.The Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislative party has elected Suvendu Adhikari as its leader, making him the obvious choice for chief minister and the first leader of the saffron party to take charge of West Bengal.“I declare Suvendu Adhikari elected as the leader of the West Bengal Legislative Party leader,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been appointed as the central observer for the West Bengal Legislative Party leader election.The contest between Mamata and Suvendu in the high-stakes Bhabanipur assembly constituency ended with BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari claiming a historic victory defeating Mamata Banerjee by 15,105 votes.Mamata’s defeat in Babanipur, considered a bastion of her deep control over TMC cadre, resonates with the verdict in West Bengal, where the BJP ousted the ruling Trinamool from 15 years of rule.