The two rivals briefly occupied the same stretch in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee had stationed herself outside a local Trinamool Congress office after complaints of alleged intimidation of party leaders.
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As Banerjee sat on the verandah of the party office, Adhikari arrived on the road opposite, flanked by a large contingent of central forces personnel, and launched into an attack on the chief minister, claiming she had realised that “not a single vote” was coming her way.
While Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to “rig” the election with the help of central forces, election observers and officials, Adhikari dismissed her allegations as “frustration”, saying the chief minister was “scared” because the state police were no longer controlling the polling process.
“Banerjee is scared. Her police have been replaced by central forces, which is why she is scared. The EC has deployed CAPFs here, so if she has any problem, she should approach them. Why have 40-50 people come with her?” Adhikari said.
He claimed Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also called him.Adhikari further accused Banerjee of moving around with “50-60 goons” despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 being in force.
“Banerjee is a candidate. She can certainly visit booths. But why this ‘goodagardi’ (hooliganism)? I have complained to the Kolkata DEO. No one will be allowed to indulge in intimidation this time,” he said.
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Standing in Chakraberia, the BJP leader also openly campaigned against Banerjee, declaring: “No one is voting for her. People should be allowed to vote freely. I will win Bhabanipur with a margin of at least 30,000 votes.”
Banerjee, who traditionally steps out of her Kalighat residence only in the afternoon to cast her vote at Mitra Institution School, broke convention this time and hit the ground before 8 a.m., underlining the political stakes attached to Bhabanipur and the wider battle for south Bengal.
As polling began across 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the assembly elections, Banerjee moved through Chetla, Padmapukur and Chakraberia, stopping at booths and interacting with party workers.
“The BJP wants to rig this election. Elections in West Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?” Banerjee told reporters, alleging democratic norms had been undermined.
She accused central forces and election observers of acting at the BJP’s behest and claimed Trinamool workers and leaders were being selectively targeted across districts.
“Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP’s directions. They are going to police stations and creating pressure. They are calling for the arrest of all TMC agents. My party’s youth president was picked up this morning and later released,” she alleged.
Claiming that she and Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had stayed awake through the night monitoring developments, Banerjee said: “Atrocities took place across West Bengal last night. We were awake the entire night. Our workers are ready to die, but we will not allow democracy to be murdered.”
She also alleged that outsiders had been brought into the constituency and that all TMC flags had been removed before polling began.
Showing videos to reporters, Banerjee alleged that central forces had visited the house of the councillor of ward number 70 when only his wife was present.
“When central forces went there, his wife was alone at home. She was threatened and even told her phone could be taken away. Is this how elections are conducted?” she asked.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee stopped near the residence of Kolkata Port TMC candidate and state minister Firhad Hakim in the Chetla area, alleging harassment by central forces and poll observers.
“Late at night, they went to Hakim’s house and banged on the door. His wife was there. Women were terrified,” she said.
The chief minister also raised the issue of alleged unrest in Bhangar and accused the Election Commission of failing to remain neutral.
“These people are doing all these things and then asking for votes. Will people vote for them? They want to win by force,” she said.
The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing Banerjee of attempting to create confusion after sensing public anger against the ruling party.
Adhikari, who offered prayers at two temples in the Khidirpur area before beginning his rounds, coordinated polling operations from three locations in Bhabanipur — Nizam Palace, the Chakraberia BJP office and ICCR — while moving through booth areas and meeting voters.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also took a swipe at Banerjee over her unusually early and extensive movements across Bhabanipur, suggesting they reflected anxiety within the Trinamool camp.
“This is the first time we are seeing Banerjee going from one booth to another in her constituency on polling day. She seems restless and not confident of her victory,” Chowdhury told reporters in Murshidabad.
