Kolkata/Nandigram: For Suvendu Adhikari, the architect of the 2021 giant-slaying of Mamata Banerjee, Nandigram has once again proven that “Dada’s backyard” remains impregnable.Hours after the election results confirmed his second consecutive victory from this high-stakes battlefield, BJP insiders said it was a foregone conclusion and that it had been “game, set and match” in favour of Adhikari from the moment the campaign in Nandigram began.The win was not an easy one, though. Between rounds 13 and 15, Adhikari’s lead — that began at over 7,500 in the first three rounds — went down to around 1,200-odd votes. By round 15, he was ahead by 1,528 votes. By the end of round 17 (there were 19 rounds), Adhikari had extended his lead to 6,305 votes. Adhikari finally prevailed by over 10,000.“I have got thrice the number of my expected votes from areas where I least expected them. This time, Trinamool did not get Muslim votes exclusively.” Later, he posted on his X handle, “A new dawn for Sonar Bangla. This historic mandate is a testament to the unwavering faith the people of Bengal have placed in the visionary leadership of honourable PM Narendramodi Ji…”Adhikari’s win — negating a fierce challenge from his former protégé Pabitra Kar — underscores the efficacy of his relentless 365-day voting machinery and a deeply entrenched personal network that touches every neighbourhood.The battle for Nandigram was far from a simple repeat of 2021. Adhikari, aware that his previous “Ghorer Chhele” (son of the soil) pitch was neutralised by the fact that Kar hails from Boyal in the heart of Nandigram, pivoted towards a sharper, bifurcated strategy. While Kar, the Trinamool nominee, attempted to corner the incumbent on a lack of development despite his long tenure as both MP and MLA, Adhikari steered clear of the developmental debate. Instead, he leaned into a potent mix of economic populism and high-voltage identity politics. His campaign focused on concrete BJP promises — most notably a Rs 3,000 monthly handout for women and a “fair selection” process for govt jobs.However, the bedrock of his victory remained his mastery of religious polarisation. He revived his “70:30” formula, urging the non-minority voters to stay united against what he characterized as Trinamool’s “fixed deposit” of Muslim votes. Adhikari consolidated a chunk of the Hindu vote share in a region where the minority population remains a formidable 46%.
