Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari has defeated Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes.
The BJP not only clinched Bhabanipur but also bagged five of the 11 seats in Kolkata, including Rashbehari, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Maniktala, and Kashipur Belgachia.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier predicted that West Bengal's change would come from Bhabanipur, and it seems that prediction has come true.
Many prominent TMC leaders lost, including Debasish Kumar, MLA and member-mayor-in-council, Shashi Panja, state commerce and industry minister, and Atin Ghosh, deputy mayor of Kolkata.
The high voter turnout of 88.59% in Kolkata is also seen as a factor in the BJP's victory, with political analysts attributing it to anti-incumbency and the special intensive revision (SIR) effect.
