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Governance anger, Muslim split behind Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool's Bengal fall
West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections produced a decisive shift as BJP appeared poised to form the state government for the first time since independence. The Trinamool Congress suffered a substantial vote-share drop, with Banerjee losing Bhabanipur, amid broader debates over governance, minority politics, and polarisation. The timeline traces events from the October 2025 electoral roll revision through temple-political moves in 2025 to the May 2026 phase-2 results and aftermath.
Why It Matters
The results mark a major realignment in West Bengal politics, illustrating how governance concerns and voter realignment across Hindu and Muslim communities contributed to the end of a 15-year TMC rule and the rise of BJP in the state.
Timeline
15 Events
May 4, 2026: Analysts attribute causes to governance and polarization
May 4, 2026
Analysts argued that governance failures, impact on industry and business, and a perception that the TMC relied on Mamata Banerjee's image rather than a strong organizational base contributed to the loss. References to a Muslim vote shift and Hindu counter-consolidation were noted in post-election analysis.
May 4, 2026: BJP poised to govern Bengal as TMC's 15-year rule ends
May 4, 2026
Observers indicated that the BJP is set to govern Bengal for the first time since Independence, with the election marking a turning point in the state’s political history.
May 4, 2026: Banerjee loses Bhabanipur; counting center scenes
May 4, 2026
Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur constituency by 15,105 votes. Abhishek Banerjee walked into the counting center at Sakhawat Memorial Girls School as BJP supporters chanted chor, chor.
May 4, 2026: Turnout and vote share; TMC's slide to 40.8%
May 4, 2026
Turnout reached 63.4 million votes (about 93%), up from 59.9 million (82.3%) five years earlier. The Trinamool Congress vote share declined from 48% in 2021 to 40.8% in 2026.
May 4, 2026: Phase 2 results reshape Bengal's assembly math
May 4, 2026
In the second phase, covering 142 seats, the BJP won 66 seats (up from 18 in 2021), signaling a major shift in Bengal's political landscape and contributing to the prospect of BJP governing the state for the first time since independence.
October 2025: Special Intensive Revision reshapes voter rolls
October 2025
A special intensive revision of the electoral roll (SIR) was notified, leading to the removal of 9.1 million names from 76.6 million registered voters (6.3 million dead/absentees, 2.7 million declared ineligible after adjudication). Banerjee accused the Election Commission of deleting supporters' names; security forces and an active EC were cited as enabling the turnout surge.
June 2025: Jagannath temple at Digha inaugurated
June 2025
A ₹250-crore Jagannath temple project at Digha was inaugurated in June 2025.
January 2025: Banerjee lays foundation for Mahakaal temple near Siliguri
January 2025
Banerjee laid the foundation for a Mahakaal temple near Siliguri in January 2025 as part of temple-building initiatives.
2025: Durga Puja grant raised to ₹1.10 lakh; total outlay ₹495 crore
2025
The Durga Puja grant was raised to ₹1.10 lakh in 2025, bringing the total outlay to ₹495 crore.
2021: UNESCO adds Durga Puja to Intangible Cultural Heritage
2021
UNESCO added Durga Puja to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list shortly after the 2021 elections.
2021: Banerjee secures a sweeping majority in Bengal elections
2021
Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress won a sweeping majority in the 2021 state elections.
2018: Durga Puja grant raised to ₹10,000
2018
The Durga Puja grant was raised from ₹10,000 in 2018.
2016: Corruption cases Saradha and Narada persist without denting TMC
2016
Despite ongoing attention to the Saradha and Narada corruption cases, the Trinamool Congress did not suffer a serious political setback by 2016 due to these issues.
2013: Calcutta High Court rules payments violate secular guidelines
2013
A Calcutta High Court ruling in 2013 found the payments to Imams and Muezzins violated constitutional guidelines on secularism, leading the state to reroute them through the Waqf Board.
2012: Banerjee introduces stipend for Imams and Muezzins
2012
Banerjee announced monthly payments of ₹2,500 to Imams and ₹1,500 to Muezzins as part of a religious leadership stipend policy.