On Wednesday, Adhikari confirmed he’s choosing Bhabanipur, and will therefore cause a by-election in Nandigram. This move allows the CM to strengthen his power in Kolkata, but he promises Nandigram won’t be ignored regarding attention or getting things done.
Why Bhabanipur over Nandigram
Adhikari says someone else will be elected in Nandigram’s by-election, but he’ll continue to be involved and do work for the people. He’s certain the people in East Midnapore (Nandigram’s region) won’t notice he’s not their MLA anymore, and he’ll keep his commitments for development there as well as for the whole state.
Oath and timing
Adhikari was officially sworn in as the MLA for Bhabanipur on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He had won both Bhabanipur and Nandigram in the recent Assembly election, and by becoming the MLA for the Kolkata area, he’s now officially representing that place in the legislature.
Precedent he cites
To calm any worries in Nandigram, Adhikari pointed to what happened in the past. From 2009 to 2016, Phiroja Bibi was the TMC (Trinamool Congress) MLA for Nandigram, and Adhikari, who was a very important person in the TMC at the time, said he completely supported her even though he wasn’t the MLA. He plans to do the same thing this time.
Election margins and local stakes
Winning in both places gave Adhikari more choices, but also increased what people will expect. He beat Mamata Banerjee (the leader of the TMC) in Bhabanipur by 15,105 votes, and he won in Nandigram too, finishing 9,665 votes ahead of Pabitra Kar from the Trinamool Congress.
Because of these results, he has influence in both areas. But voters in Bhabanipur will want to see what their MLA-CM (Member of the Legislative Assembly and Chief Minister) does for them, and people in Nandigram will judge him on how quickly promises become actual projects.
What changes for Nandigram now
A by-election will decide who the new MLA for Nandigram will be. Adhikari is describing this change as more about how things are managed than about feelings, saying that the support and money for Nandigram will still be there while he’s in charge.
Here are the immediate takeaways for residents and party workers in Nandigram:
– A bypoll will fill the MLA vacancy
– Adhikari promises continued development focus
– Local coordination channels will stay active
– Political messaging will stress continuity
Signals to party cadres and rivals
By making Bhabanipur his main legislative base, Adhikari is putting the Chief Minister’s area right in the middle of his work as a legislator. This decision tells people in his party to continue to be active in the important political center of Kolkata, while he’ll oversee Nandigram through a representative with power and a central way of keeping things under control.
The opposing parties will look at this split decision and think about how much work Adhikari and his team can handle. For Adhikari, the important thing is to do things: show Bhabanipur the advantages of having their MLA as the Chief Minister, and prove to Nandigram that projects will continue and problems will be fixed as before.
What to watch next
In the next few weeks, two things will happen. First, the practical steps of giving up his seat in Nandigram and getting ready for the by-election. Second, starting noticeable projects in both Bhabanipur and Nandigram that are what he promised during the election.
Adhikari has made it clear what he thinks success looks like. He says the people of Nandigram won’t feel as if he’s gone and he will fulfill all his promises for development alongside all the other work for the state. How well he follows through on that promise will determine what happens politically in the future.
