West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise stop in her home constituency of Bhabanipur, stepping out of her convoy to go vegetable shopping on her way back from a political rally, reported NDTV. While the Chief Minister is known to frequent local markets to interact with residents, the walkabout comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines with a widely publicised 'jhalmuri' break during his own campaign trail.
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Dressed in her signature white saree, the 71-year-old Chief Minister was seen picking through fresh produce and speaking with local vendors about rising prices and supply. This direct outreach occurred on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded massive roadshows across Hooghly and North 24 Parganas, effectively splitting the state's political focus between the rural heartlands and the capital's most watched constituency.
Mamata Banerjee turned the streets of Bhabanipur into a cultural showcase, walking through the winding lanes of the old neighborhood. To the rhythmic beats of the 'Dhak' and the vibrant energy of Purulia's traditional 'Chhou' dancers, the TMC supremo's procession was underscored by the defiant campaign anthem, "Jotoi Koro Hamla Abar Jitbe Bangla" (No matter the attacks, Bengal will triumph).
She addressed the crowd, reported NDTV, "We must all live together, and all the citizens of this area must get good facilities. We have built many temples. We cannot build mosques, but we have made burial grounds. A large temple is being built for our Jain community. St. Xavier's College, Bhabanipur Education Society College, we've made it a university and have even given land for it. We've established an ISKCON temple, a Jagannath Dham, and an Islamia Hospital."
Bhabanipur has emerged as the epicentre of the 2026 Assembly Elections, following the BJP's strategic decision to field Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against Banerjee. Adhikari, a former close aide to Banerjee, famously defeated her in Nandigram during the 2021 polls, making this "rematch" in her home turf a high-stakes battle.
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