Goa, May 5 -- Mamata Banerjee suffered a major political setback in 2026 as BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari defeated her in Kolkata's Bhabanipur, a seat long considered her stronghold. The defeat comes five years after Adhikari had unseated her in Nandigram, marking a significant moment in West Bengal politics.

The closely fought contest witnessed multiple swings through the day. Mamata Banerjee initially recovered from an early deficit and even built a lead of over 19,000 votes. However, the margin narrowed sharply in later rounds before Adhikari surged ahead, eventually winning by around 15,000 votes.

Bhabanipur's complex demographic mix-often described as "Mini India"-played a key role. A noticeable consolidation of non-Muslim votes, alo...