The excitement in Bengal politics is at its peak as Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to announce its full candidate list this Tuesday. The million-dollar question remains: Will Mamata Banerjee contest from her traditional bastion, Bhawanipore? After her high-profile defeat in Nandigram during the 2021 elections against Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister later won back the Bhawanipore seat in a by-election. However, Suvendu is now reportedly crafting a new “siege strategy” to keep the CM occupied within her own constituency.

According to sources, the Leader of Opposition wants to compel Mamata Banerjee to spend the maximum amount of time campaigning for herself in Bhawanipore. If she gets stuck defending her home ground, it will significantly reduce her ability to lead the statewide campaign—a tactic intended to benefit the BJP across other 293 seats. While Mamata often claims, “I am the candidate in all 294 seats,” the ghost of Nandigram still lingers.

In 2021, Shovandeb Chattopadhyay contested the seat initially, but TMC insiders suggest that this time, Mamata is likely to lead from the front to avoid any technical glitches or voter confusion. As the list is finalized, the political battle between Mamata and Suvendu is shifting its gears to South Kolkata. All eyes are on the announcement to see if Bhawanipore will witness another historic showdown.