TMC reduced to five seats in Kolkata as BJP sweeps Jadavpur and Sonarpur

TL;DR: Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured just five of Kolkata’s 11 assembly seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) captured high‑profile constituencies including Jadavpur and Sonarpur.

Kolkata’s political landscape shifted dramatically in the recent state elections. In 2021, TMC swept all 11 city seats, but this cycle delivered a stark reversal. The party’s urban stronghold fragmented, with senior leaders and ministers losing to BJP challengers.

TMC’s tally fell to five seats. Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh was defeated in the Belgachhia‑Cossipore constituency, losing to BJP candidate Ritesh Tiwari by 1,651 votes. Minister Shashi Panja fell in Shyampukur, where BJP’s Purnima Chakraborty won by a margin of 14,633 votes. These losses underscore the party’s erosion in areas it once considered safe.

The BJP’s advance extended beyond isolated upsets. In the city’s southern suburbs, the party wrested Jadavpur and Sonarpur from TMC control, signaling a broader swing toward the opposition in traditionally left‑leaning districts. Veteran TMC figures such as power minister Aroop Biswas and former education minister Partha Chatterjee also faced defeat, highlighting the depth of the setback.

Despite the rout, TMC retained a handful of seats. Mayor Firhad Hakim held Kolkata Port, Sobhandeb Chatterjee kept Ballygunge, and state minister Javed Ahmed Khan won a fourth term in Kasba. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, veteran Nayana Bandyopadhyay, and others secured victories in Beliaghata, Chowringhee, and Entally, providing limited footholds for the party.

The election outcome reshapes Kolkata’s governance. With BJP now representing a majority of the city’s assembly seats, it will influence municipal policy, development projects, and the allocation of state resources. TMC’s reduced presence may limit its ability to block or amend proposals, forcing the party to negotiate from a weaker position.

Looking ahead, analysts will watch how BJP leverages its new urban mandate and whether TMC can regroup for upcoming local elections. The next few months will reveal whether the shift in Kolkata signals a longer‑term realignment in West Bengal politics.