Kolkata/IBNS: The Bhabanipur contest is shaping into a nail-biter as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari closes the gap with Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Mamata Banerjee, according to media reports.
Banerjee’s lead has narrowed to just over 5,000 votes at the end of the 13th round of counting, after earlier touching nearly 20,000. Adhikari began clawing back the margin from around the 10th round.
Counting is scheduled to continue till the 20th round.
Meanwhile, Banerjee has rushed to Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls’ High School as counting enters the final stages.
While the TMC supremo is locked in a tight personal battle, the party appears headed for defeat statewide, with the BJP leading in over 200 seats.
The TMC has slipped below the 100-seat mark as the saffron surge sweeps across West Bengal.