. NANDIGRAM: In the 2021 Bengal polls, a wheelchair-bound Mamata Banerjee chose Nandigram’s Boyal as her anchorage, scripting one of the defining moments of a razor-edge contest that she lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari before winning a bypoll from Bhowanipore.In 2026, it was Adhikari — once her opponent, now facing aide-turned-foe Pabitra Kar — choosing the same Boyal as his base camp. It’s here that all eyes tracking Nandigram’s tense poll day were focused on Thursday. Around 12.45pm, Adhikari reached Sambhunath Primary School booth in Boyal, less than 100 metres from Kar’s home. “Listen to the voters and you will know why Trinamool is on its way out,” said Adhikari, the outgoing state leader of opposition.Kar’s wife, Siuli, the local panchayat chief, was at the booth. “News came that some outsiders from BJP had beaten up a local youth… Adhikari arrived here to disturb peace,” Siuli said. Minutes later, Kar arrived. As BJP and Trinamool Congress workers started a battle of slogans, central forces stepped in. I am not opposed to Suvendu as a person. I do not agree with his politics,” Kar said before walking inside the booth.Adhikari’s next stop was Boyal Maqtab Primary School, the same booth where Mamata Banerjee had sat for over two hours in 2021, accusing outsiders of voting en masse. “This time, there is no drama here. All goons have been bottled up,” Adhikari said as he left.Adhikari — who is also contesting from CM Mamata’s current seat, Bhowanipore, this time — started the day early, leaving his Contai residence around 6.45am. He voted at a school in Nandigram town at 8am, then toured booths where BJP had lagged in past elections.Adhikari pulled up polling staff at Nandigram BMT High School over “slow polling” and visited Garchakraberia, Kendemari and Bhekutia — all violence-prone areas. “TMC goons did not let me enter these booths in 2021. This time, they have been taught a lesson,” he said.Between 9.15am and 11.30am, Adhikari covered 44km in Nandigram. “I was with TMC in 2011… In 2021, the BJP was ready to change. This time, the people are ready, even more than 15 years ago,” he claimed.At Bhekutia, where a TMC worker was murdered in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Adhikari alleged voter intimidation before leaving amid “Joy Bangla” slogans. By evening, he was sharing jhalmuri with women voters. “Just watch how we conduct elections in South Kolkata (including Bhowanipore) and South 24 Parganas,” Adhikari said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Uninformed, Inappropriate’: India Responds To Trump’s ‘Hell-hole’ Comment‘In Touch With Iran’: MEA Confirms Indian Crew Safe After Hormuz FiringViolent Clashes Mar Bengal Phase 1 Voting As Tamil Stars Contribute To 82% TurnoutFrance Waives Airport Transit Visa For Indian Nationals, Boosts Travel EaseTop Military Leadership Of India And US Engage To Discuss Common Concerns In The Indo-pacificEx-Domestic Worker Arrested in Delhi IIT Graduate Murder; Linked to Alwar CaseTrump Sparks Outrage After Reposting ‘Hellholes’ Remark on India, China Amid Citizenship DebateUS Congressman Urges Pakistan To Act Against LeT, JeM; Renews Focus On Cross-Border TerrorWest Bengal Poll Violence: Blast In Murshidabad Injures Multiple During VotingVijay Writes To EC Seeking Poll Extension Amid 17.69% Early Turnout In Tamil Nadu123Photostories10 beautiful baby girl names that mean grace and eleganceTop 5 footballers influencing men’s fashion right now7 air-purifying plants for terrace gardensAre you using the right spoon? Here’s what each type of spoon is actually designed forGarad to Tangail: 5 underrated textiles from West Bengal you need to knowRoyal birthdays in May 2026: List of upcoming birthdays of Royals across the worldExclusive – Parth Samthaan on Mahid’s popularity, Sehar Hone Ko Hai and work-life balance: ‘We never tried to create controversy or show religion as propaganda’7 ways to make your first home feel right—cozy, functional, and personalMeghan Markle to Katy Perry: Ultimate celebrity backyards that serve as private hideawaysTop 5 elite residential neighbourhoods in Lucknow for end-users and investors123Hot PicksBengal Election 2026UP Board Class 10 result 2026Bengal election dos and don’tsTamil Nadu pollsSIR ProtestTN election dos and don’tsBank Holidays AprilTop TrendingWest Bengal electionTamil Nadu electionDianna RussiniNFL TradeTaylor SwiftMike VrabelUPMSP 12th ResultAnna KournikovasDNA TestIPL Orange Cap
NANDIGRAM: In the 2021 Bengal polls, a wheelchair-bound Mamata Banerjee chose Nandigram’s Boyal as her anchorage, scripting one of the defining moments of a razor-edge contest that she lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari before winning a bypoll from Bhowanipore.In 2026, it was Adhikari — once her opponent, now facing aide-turned-foe Pabitra Kar — choosing the same Boyal as his base camp. It’s here that all eyes tracking Nandigram’s tense poll day were focused on Thursday. Around 12.45pm, Adhikari reached Sambhunath Primary School booth in Boyal, less than 100 metres from Kar’s home. “Listen to the voters and you will know why Trinamool is on its way out,” said Adhikari, the outgoing state leader of opposition.Kar’s wife, Siuli, the local panchayat chief, was at the booth. “News came that some outsiders from BJP had beaten up a local youth… Adhikari arrived here to disturb peace,” Siuli said. Minutes later, Kar arrived. As BJP and Trinamool Congress workers started a battle of slogans, central forces stepped in. I am not opposed to Suvendu as a person. I do not agree with his politics,” Kar said before walking inside the booth.Adhikari’s next stop was Boyal Maqtab Primary School, the same booth where Mamata Banerjee had sat for over two hours in 2021, accusing outsiders of voting en masse. “This time, there is no drama here. All goons have been bottled up,” Adhikari said as he left.Adhikari — who is also contesting from CM Mamata’s current seat, Bhowanipore, this time — started the day early, leaving his Contai residence around 6.45am. He voted at a school in Nandigram town at 8am, then toured booths where BJP had lagged in past elections.Adhikari pulled up polling staff at Nandigram BMT High School over “slow polling” and visited Garchakraberia, Kendemari and Bhekutia — all violence-prone areas. “TMC goons did not let me enter these booths in 2021. This time, they have been taught a lesson,” he said.Between 9.15am and 11.30am, Adhikari covered 44km in Nandigram. “I was with TMC in 2011… In 2021, the BJP was ready to change. This time, the people are ready, even more than 15 years ago,” he claimed.At Bhekutia, where a TMC worker was murdered in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Adhikari alleged voter intimidation before leaving amid “Joy Bangla” slogans. By evening, he was sharing jhalmuri with women voters. “Just watch how we conduct elections in South Kolkata (including Bhowanipore) and South 24 Parganas,” Adhikari said.
