West Bengal’s former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee filed an election petition before the Calcutta High Court on June 16, 2026, challenging the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency result, alleging irregularities in the counting process that led to her defeat.
According to The Federal, the petition was filed approximately 42 days after votes were counted on May 4, 2026 — a result that ended Banerjee’s decade-and-a-half hold on the constituency.
Background: How We Got Here
Bhabanipur has been Mamata Banerjee’s political fortress for over a decade. She won the seat in 2011, 2016, and again in a 2021 by-election — making it the constituency most closely identified with her political identity.
When West Bengal went to the polls in 2026, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari — who had previously defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 — contested Bhabanipur directly against her. Counting was conducted on May 4, 2026, per India TV News and Deccan Chronicle.
- Adhikari polled 73,917 votes (53.02%) against Banerjee’s 58,812 votes (42.19%), per Wikipedia’s Bhabanipur constituency entry — a winning margin of 15,105 votes, as reported by the Free Press Journal and Deccan Chronicle.
- On counting day itself, Banerjee publicly alleged that the counting process at a south Kolkata counting centre was being conducted unfairly, and claimed she was pushed during disturbances at the venue, according to The Federal.
- Following the BJP’s sweep of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari went on to become the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal, per India TV News.
Banerjee’s first appearance at the Calcutta High Court after the election was on May 14, 2026, when she visited in connection with post-election violence cases — not the Bhabanipur result, as noted by The Federal and ProKerala.
The June 16 petition marks her second approach to the court following the 2026 election, and her first formal legal challenge to the Bhabanipur result itself.
The Petition — What Was Filed and Under What Law
Banerjee personally visited the Calcutta High Court registry on June 16, 2026, to “affirm” the election petition, according to TMC sources cited by India TV News and Deccan Chronicle.
She was accompanied at the High Court by TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh and party leader Dola Sen, as reported by ProKerala.
The petition challenges the declared result of the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, alleging irregularities in the counting process. No case number has been confirmed in available sources as of June 16, 2026.
Election petitions of this nature are adjudicated under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, which empowers courts to examine allegations relating to electoral misconduct, counting irregularities, and violations of election law, according to Republic World.
The Calcutta High Court is expected to examine the maintainability of the petition before issuing further directions. No hearing date or judicial order had been confirmed in available sources at the time of filing.
Notably, Banerjee’s visit to the court coincided with a separate hearing concerning the recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, per The Federal.
Reactions & What’s Next
Banerjee is not alone in pursuing legal remedies after the 2026 West Bengal polls. TMC’s Tapash Chatterjee filed a separate election petition on the same day, June 16, 2026, challenging the Rajarhat New Town result in which he lost by just 316 votes, according to Scroll.in.
The Bhabanipur petition also draws a parallel to Banerjee’s 2021 election petition arising from her Nandigram defeat against Adhikari — that petition, which similarly alleged counting irregularities, remains pending before the Calcutta High Court.
The broader political context includes internal dissent and defections within the TMC following the party’s 2026 electoral setback, adding further significance to Banerjee’s decision to mount a legal challenge personally.
The Calcutta High Court’s next step will be to assess whether the petition is maintainable before scheduling a formal hearing. No date has been announced as of June 16, 2026.
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What does Mamata Banerjee’s election petition allege?
The petition alleges irregularities in the counting process at Bhabanipur that led to her defeat. On counting day, May 4, 2026, Banerjee had publicly alleged the process at a south Kolkata counting centre was being conducted unfairly, and claimed she was pushed during disturbances at the venue, according to The Federal.
By how many votes did Suvendu Adhikari defeat Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur?
Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee by a margin of 15,105 votes. Adhikari received 73,917 votes (53.02%) while Banerjee received 58,812 votes (42.19%), per Free Press Journal, Deccan Chronicle, and Wikipedia.
Under which law can Mamata Banerjee challenge the Bhabanipur election result?
Election petitions are adjudicated under the Representation of the People Act, which allows courts to examine allegations relating to electoral misconduct, counting irregularities, and violations of election law, according to Republic World.
When was the Bhabanipur election petition filed?
Mamata Banerjee filed the election petition at the Calcutta High Court on June 16, 2026 — approximately 42 days after votes were counted on May 4, 2026, per The Federal and Republic World.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
