Suvendu is often regarded as a product of her political mentorship. However, the landscape shifted in 2021 when he exited the All India Trinamool Congress party shortly before the last Assembly Elections to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
That same year, he triumphed over Mamata in Nandigram. Now, in Bhabanipur, a bastion for Mamata since 2011, the two leaders find themselves in a direct competition once more.
Suvendu is running in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from two constituencies: Nandigram and Bhabanipur.
Both politicians have publicly declared their assets in affidavits submitted to the Election Commission.
Mamata has reported total assets of approximately ₹15.37 lakh, based on her election affidavit filed from Bhabanipur for the 2026 Assembly elections. This marks a slight decrease compared to her declaration in 2021.
Per the affidavit, her wealth consists entirely of movable assets—such as cash and bank deposits—totaling ₹15.38 lakh. She holds no immovable property like land or flat and has no outstanding liabilities. Her cash balance is ₹75,700, showing a modest rise from ₹69,255 in 2021, alongside over ₹12.7 lakh in the bank.
Her total assets have dwindled by roughly ₹1.3 lakh since the last election in 2021. Additionally, her receivables, including tax refunds or outstanding amounts, have decreased from around ₹1.8 lakh in 2021 to ₹40,600 currently. She also possesses jewellery valued at about ₹1.45 lakh.
In her affidavit, she asserted that she has no investments in shares, bonds, or insurance policies, nor does she own any vehicle. Listing her occupation as social work and politics, she reported a total income of around ₹23.21 lakh for the financial year 2024-25.
In contrast, her competitor Suvendu declares movable assets worth approximately ₹24.57 lakh and immovable assets valued at around ₹61.30 lakh, which include agricultural land, a house, and a flat. His total property valuation, inclusive of land and buildings, reaches approximately ₹25 lakh.
Suvendu has also reported having no loans, government dues, or vehicles, consistent with Mamata Banerjee’s disclosures. However, his declared income is about ₹17.38 lakh, nearly double what he reported in the 2021 elections. Unlike Mamata, he does not own any jewellery.
The affidavit indicates that Suvendu is currently involved in 25 criminal cases, though none have led to convictions. These charges encompass serious allegations including rioting, violence, defamation, provocation, and violations under laws such as the SC/ST Act and the Disaster Management Act. According to the affidavit, many of these cases were initiated after he joined the BJP in 2020.
Voting in Nandigram is scheduled for the first phase on April 23, while Bhabanipur will hold its polling in the second phase on April 29, with results set to be announced on May 4.
