India's fiercest female politician faces a fight for survival
Mamata Banerjee loses West Bengal state, throwing her party - and political future - into doubt.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"Mamata, like [Prime Minister and BJP leader] Narendra Modi, has been a politician all her life."
— Mukulika Banerjee , Academic
"Those early battles made her fearless, realising she could make others feel the same, if she stood by them."
— Mukulika Banerjee , Academic
"BJP looted more than 100 seats. The Election Commission is the BJP’s commission."
— Mamata Banerjee , Politician
"It is loot, loot, loot. We will bounce back."
— Mamata Banerjee , Politician
"I thank all of them."
— Suvendu Adhikari , Politician
Key People
Diplu Ranjan Sarmah is a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state assembly elections.
Mamata Banerjee is the founder of the Trinamool Congress party and a prominent Indian politician.
Mukulika Banerjee is an anthropologist at the London School of Economics.
Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India.
Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Vijay Chandrasekhar is an actor-turned-politician and leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party.
Tags
All Coverage
Mamata Banerjee loses West Bengal state, throwing her party - and political future - into doubt.
After losing her seat in Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP had 'looted more than 100 seats' and described the victory as 'immoral' and 'illegal'.
In a stunning electoral collapse, Mamata Banerjee and 63% of her cabinet ministers were defeated, signaling a deep and widespread rejection of governance in West Bengal.
An analysis of how Mamata Banerjee's personal incorruptibility and the blurring lines between her leadership and the party machinery led to a historic reversal in West Bengal's 2026 elections.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won control of West Bengal, marking the first time the BJP has governed the state and ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, was defeated by Suvendu Adhikari in the Bhabanipur constituency, marking a significant electoral setback for her and the Trinamool Congress.
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