West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections marked a dramatic shift as the BJP secured a landslide victory, ending TMC's 15-year rule. Violent controversies and a shocking murder followed, casting a shadow over the historic change.
West Bengal, with nearly 100 million people, has seen fierce political battles from the Left Front's 34 years to Mamata Banerjee's TMC tenure. The 2026 polls pitted TMC's bid for a fourth term against BJP's first-ever win. Tensions built around identity, citizenship, and governance issues.
A Special Intensive Revision deleted about 9 million voters, mostly marked absent or deceased, sparking TMC claims of disenfranchising minorities. BJP called it a cleanup of bogus votes with Supreme Court oversight. Key themes included CAA promises anti-infiltration drives anti-incumbency, and women's safety.
Suvendu Adhikari's remarks, like vowing to oust Muslim MLAs and labelling TMC as Muslim League 2, fueled rows. TMC hit back, terming them provocative and anti-development.
EC announced polls on March 15 with voting on April 23 and 29 across 294 seats. Over 350000 security forces, including the NIA, were deployed amid a history of violence. Record 92.93% turnout topped 2011's 84%.
EVM tampering claims led to repolls in 15 booths after reports of taped buttons. Violence hit Howrah Hooghly with CRPF baton charges.
On May 4, the BJP won 206 seats, crossing the majority in 293 constituencies, with the Falta repoll pending. TMC crashed from 215 in 2021. Suvendu Adhikari beat Mamata in Bhabanipur by over 15000 votes, a rematch of the 2021 Nandigram.
Mamata refused to quit calling the results a conspiracy and the EC the villain.
Chaos erupted with four deaths, TMC offices torched and communal targeting, including a mosque. Kolkata saw bulldozers raze TMC structures amid Jai Shri Ram chants. Birbhum reported that TMC leader Abir Sheikh was hacked to death in Murshidabad, a CPI(M) worker was shot, and Sandeshkhali police were injured.
EC issued zero-tolerance orders holding officials accountable.
On May 6, Suvendu's PA Chandranath Rath was shot dead near his Madhyamgram home by bike assailants after a car interception. Four bullets hit him; the driver was injured. Probe revealed three-day surveillance, fake plates, and rehearsal.
BJP called it TMC revenge; TMC condemned it alongside alleged BJP attacks, demanding a CBI probe. Echoed the 2013 killing of Adhikari's prior aide.
Rahul Gandhi was alleged to have been stolen in Maharashtra. BJP hailed it as a mandate for Sonar Bangla. Global media like Al Jazeera highlighted violence and Modi's expansion.
Governor dissolved assembly post-May 7; BJP eyes Suvendu as CM with Modi Shah attendance. Rath probe and Falta repoll loom amid security fears. Bengal faces a volatile transition after another regime fall.
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