South Bengal districts, including Kolkata, are forecast to experience thunderstorms and rain on Sunday evening with gusty winds. North Bengal anticipates heavy to very heavy rainfall for several days, with adverse conditions expected until Wednesday.
Bhabanipur witnessed high-voltage drama as Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari traded barbs amid polling. Mamata accused the BJP of rigging, while Suvendu dismissed her claims as frustration. Tensions flared at a polling booth, requiring intervention by security forces. This phase is crucial for both TMC's stronghold and BJP's challenge in south Bengal.
West Bengal's final phase of assembly elections covers 142 seats in south Bengal, including Kolkata, Howrah, and the 24 Parganas districts. The TMC dominated this belt in 2021, winning 123 seats, while the BJP secured only 18. The key contest is Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in a high-stakes rematch. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has seen over 40 lakh names deleted across these districts, with at least 25 constituencies seeing deletions exceeding previous victory margins.
With 142 seats in South Bengal going to polls on April 29, the TMC faces mounting anti-incumbency after 15 years in power, compounded by corruption allegations and lack of industrial growth. The BJP struggles to find a candidate who can match Mamata Banerjee's personal credibility, while the Left attempts a revival with young leaders. The 3-M factor — Muslims, Matuas and women voters — may prove decisive, with women's support for TMC's welfare schemes and Matua anger over SIR deletions creating complex electoral dynamics.
