TMC sweeps West Bengal but Mamata Banerjee loses to Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram

TMC has emerged victorious in the electoral battle against the BJP to form the government for a third consecutive term in West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday scored a landslide victory in West Bengal Assembly Elections, however, Ms. Banerjee lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Suvendu Adhikari in a tough battle in Nandigram.

TMC has emerged victorious in the electoral battle against the BJP to form the government for a third consecutive term in West Bengal. TMC has crossed the majority mark of 147 and won 213 seats and the BJP has been left far behind with 77 seats.

Mr Adhikari, who was a close aide of Ms Banerjee before changing sides with the BJP, won by a slight margin of 1,956 votes in Nandigram. Ms Banerjee said though she has accepted the Nandigram verdict, she would approach the court for the "malpractices." 

Ms Banerjee said, "Let the Nandigram people give whatever verdict they want, I accept that. Nandigram was a sacrifice that was needed in the larger victory. We have won the state." She added whatever happened was for the best. "But I will go to the court because I have heard there were some malpractices," she said.

Mamata had come to power for the first time in Nandigram in 2011. Mr Adhikari, who supported Ms Banerjee, became an MLA in the constituency and for years, Nandigram remained a bastion of the Adhikari family. However, in this election, Mr Adhikari switched to the BJP after which several TMC leaders followed the same path. 

While speaking to the press, Ms Banerjee said this was a victory of the people of Bengal and she was proud that Bengal saved the country. She added that Covid was her priority and no big oath-taking ceremony will be held. She also requested everyone not to take out any victory processions amid Covid crisis.