Mamata challenges Bhabanipur poll result in Calcutta HC, alleges counting irregularities

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (June 16) challenged the result of the election in Bhabanipur assembly constituency in the Calcutta High Court, alleging irregularities in the counting process that led to her defeat by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Banerjee filed an affidavit in support of her election petition challenging the outcome of the constituency, a traditional stronghold of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The legal challenge comes more than a month after the results of the 2026 assembly election, in which Banerjee lost the Bhabanipur seat to Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.

Challenge to Bhabanipur result

The defeat was one of the most significant setbacks for the TMC leader, who had won the Bhabanipur seat in three successive elections since 2011.

According to party leaders accompanying her, the petition seeks judicial scrutiny of the electoral process in Bhabanipur. Banerjee was joined at the court by senior TMC figures, including Kunal Ghosh, Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen.

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The move revives a dispute that began on counting day on May 4. Banerjee had then alleged that the counting process at a south Kolkata counting centre was being conducted in an unfair manner. She also claimed she had been pushed during disturbances at the venue and accused election authorities of failing to ensure a transparent counting process.

Counting day allegations

Tuesday's petition is the second time Banerjee has approached the High Court following her party's defeat in the election.

On May 14, she attended proceedings related to post-election violence cases. During that visit, she encountered protests from a section of lawyers, with slogans raised against her after she exited the courtroom.

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The Bhabanipur challenge also echoes a legal battle that followed the 2021 assembly election. After losing to Adhikari in the Nandigram constituency that year, Banerjee filed an election petition alleging counting irregularities and seeking to overturn the result.

That case remains pending before the High Court.

Echoes of Nandigram case

Political observers said the latest petition once again shows Banerjee's continued refusal to accept the outcome of the 2026 election.

Her appearance at court also coincided with a politically significant hearing in a separate case involving the recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

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The case was filed by TMC legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, who has challenged the assembly speaker's decision to grant Ritabrata official recognition as opposition leader. The petition argues that constitutional provisions and assembly procedures were not properly followed.

Parallel opposition row

Senior TMC parliamentarian and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee, appearing for the petitioner, has sought judicial intervention against the Speaker's decision. The state government has opposed the plea.

The matter was scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Krishna Rao’s bench later today.