With the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has set an aggressive electoral target for Bhabanipur constituency, the West Bengal Chief Minister’s home turf, with party leaders aiming to significantly surpass their previous victory margin in the high-profile constituency.
At a workers’ meeting held at Ahindra Mancha in Chetla on Sunday evening, senior leaders including Mamata Banerjee, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and Firhad Hakim outlined a focused campaign strategy centred on expanding the party’s lead.
According to sources, Abhishek made it clear that there was “no room for complacency” in Bhabanipur and that merely retaining the seat would not be enough. He set a target of crossing a 60,000-vote margin, taking as a benchmark the 58,835-vote victory secured by Mamata in the by-election following the 2021 Assembly polls.
During the 2021 elections, TMC candidate Sovandeb Chattopadhyay had defeated BJP’s Rudranil Ghosh by 28,719 votes in Bhabanipur. The subsequent bypoll, however, saw Mamata nearly doubling that margin. Party leaders now view that figure as a baseline to be exceeded in the upcoming contest.
Addressing party workers, Abhishek urged each individual to contribute to increasing the margin, reportedly asking them to secure at least five additional votes per booth. He emphasised that the lead must be expanded across all 231 polling booths in the constituency, underscoring that a decisive victory would carry symbolic as well as political significance.
The BJP has fielded Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against Mamata in Bhabanipur, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest. However, Abhishek avoided naming the BJP leader directly, instead framing the objective as a broader political battle against the party.
Mamata, addressing the meeting, struck a combative note while also urging caution among party workers. Raising concerns over recent administrative changes, she questioned who would take responsibility in the event of any law-and-order issues, and criticised both the Centre and the Election Commission.
She also sought to tap into voter concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, assuring legal assistance to those facing difficulties or exclusion. At the same time, she called for a calm but firm campaign, alleging that the BJP was attempting to provoke tensions by bringing in outsiders.
The meeting also saw a strong push to highlight the state government’s welfare schemes and governance record, while contrasting them with the Centre’s policies. Leaders stressed the need for sustained grassroots outreach, repeated engagement with voters, and clear communication of the party’s achievements.
With the slogan “This Bengal shall never bow down,” Abhishek called for Bhabanipur to emerge as the frontrunner among Kolkata constituencies. The emphasis on expanding the victory margin signals the TMC’s intent to turn the constituency into a showcase of its electoral strength in the upcoming polls.
Also read: Battle will continue: Mamata targets SIR at Eid-Ul-Fitr gathering
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