In a potential repeat of the high-voltage Nandigram contest of 2021, Suvendu Adhikari is reportedly considering challenging Mamata Banerjee in her Bhabanipur constituency in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Once close allies, the two parted ways ahead of the 2021 elections, leading to Mamata losing Nandigram by under 2,000 votes before reclaiming Bhabanipur.

The BJP has signalled its intent to make inroads in Bhabanipur, especially after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list showed over 47,000 deletions from the constituency, which has 267 booths. Suvendu Adhikari has set up a dedicated war room in Ward 70, a strong-performing ward for BJP since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Former BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar has hinted that Suvendu could be the candidate to take on Mamata if she contests from Bhabanipur. Suvendu himself has repeatedly claimed that just as he defeated her in Nandigram, he aims to make her a former chief minister by defeating her in Bhabanipur by 20,000 votes.

As political preparations intensify, Bhabanipur is shaping up as the key seat to watch in 2026, potentially marking the next major showdown between TMC and BJP in West Bengal.